Judges 20:37

Verse

The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword.

American Standard Version (1901)

And the liers-in-wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers-in-wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

Bible in Basic English

And the watchers, rushing on Gibeah and overrunning it, put all the town to the sword without mercy.

Free Bible Version

The men from the ambush raced to attack the town, and they killed everyone in it.

Geneva Bible 1599

And they that lay in wait hasted, and brake forth toward Gibeah, and the ambushment drewe themselues along, and smote all the citie with the edge of the sword.

King James (Authorized) Version

And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then the men who were hiding got up and hurried and they rushed into Gibeah, and they struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

Noah Webster Bible

And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

World English Bible

The ambushers hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; then the ambushers spread out, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

Young's Literal Translation

and the ambush have hasted, and push against Gibeah, and the ambush draweth itself out, and smiteth the whole of the city by the mouth of the sword.

Context

Civil War against Benjamin

³⁶Then the Benjamites realized they had been defeated. Now the men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin because they were relying on the ambush they had set against Gibeah.³⁷The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword.

Sermons

How to Study Revival

E.A. Johnston

744

Summary

In this verse, the men of Benjamin had been overconfident due to their earlier victories in battle. However, they were caught off guard and defeated by the Israelites who had devised a strategic plan. This event serves as a reminder of the consequences of pride and the importance of humility and reliance on God's guidance in all circumstances. It also illustrates the principle that victory does not always go to the strongest or most numerous, but to those who trust in the Lord and seek His wisdom.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait,.... Or an appointed time (z) as the Targum; so Kimchi and Abarbinel. There was a time fixed, at which the men of Israel proposed to be at Baaltamar, exactly when the Benjaminites would be drawn at a proper distance from the city, and then the liers in wait were to break forth, and rush upon it, and enter it: and that they should make a great flame with smoke to rise up out of the city; set it on fire, and cause the fire to burn fiercely, that there might be a large ascent of flame and smoke to be seen afar off; which, when the men of Israel saw, they would know the city was taken. (z) "tempus constitutum", Panginus, Montanus, Junius et Tremellius, Piscator.

Judges 20:37

Civil War against Benjamin

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword.

American Standard Version (1901)

And the liers-in-wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers-in-wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

Bible in Basic English

And the watchers, rushing on Gibeah and overrunning it, put all the town to the sword without mercy.

Free Bible Version

The men from the ambush raced to attack the town, and they killed everyone in it.

Geneva Bible 1599

And they that lay in wait hasted, and brake forth toward Gibeah, and the ambushment drewe themselues along, and smote all the citie with the edge of the sword.

King James (Authorized) Version

And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then the men who were hiding got up and hurried and they rushed into Gibeah, and they struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

Noah Webster Bible

And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

World English Bible

The ambushers hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; then the ambushers spread out, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

Young's Literal Translation

and the ambush have hasted, and push against Gibeah, and the ambush draweth itself out, and smiteth the whole of the city by the mouth of the sword.