Judges 20:38

Verse

The men of Israel had arranged a signal with the men in ambush: When they sent up a great cloud of smoke from the city,

American Standard Version (1901)

Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers-in-wait was, that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.

Bible in Basic English

Now the sign fixed between the men of Israel and those making the surprise attack was that when they made a pillar of smoke go up from the town,

Free Bible Version

The agreement was that they would send up a great cloud of smoke to show the town had fallen.

Geneva Bible 1599

Also the men of Israel had appoynted a certaine time with the ambushmentes, that they should make a great flame and smoke rise vp out of the citie.

King James (Authorized) Version

Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The arranged signal between the soldiers of Israel and the men hiding in secret would be that a great cloud of smoke would rise up out of the city.

Noah Webster Bible

Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke to rise from the city.

World English Bible

Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushers was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.

Young's Literal Translation

And there was the appointed sign to the men of Israel with the ambush — their causing to go up a great volume of smoke from the city.

Context

Civil War against Benjamin

³⁷The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword.³⁸The men of Israel had arranged a signal with the men in ambush: When they sent up a great cloud of smoke from the city, ³⁹the men of Israel would turn in the battle. When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.”

Summary

In this verse, the men of Israel had devised a plan to draw the enemy away from the city by creating a large cloud of smoke. This strategic move allowed them to gain the upper hand in battle by deceiving their opponents and launching a surprise attack. The passage showcases the importance of wisdom, cunning, and military strategy in achieving victory, as well as the resourcefulness of God's people in times of conflict. It also highlights the theme of divine assistance and guidance in the midst of warfare, demonstrating how God can work through human tactics to bring about deliverance.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And when the men of Israel retired in the battle,.... Which is before expressed by their fleeing, and giving place to the Benjaminites, and was only an artifice of theirs, to draw them off from the city: Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; which was done in the highways leading to Shiloh and Gibeah in the field, Jdg 20:31. for they said, surely they are smitten down before us as in the first battle; when the greater number of the Israelites were slain by them.