Judges 20:41

Verse

Then the men of Israel turned back on them, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they realized that disaster had come upon them.

American Standard Version (1901)

And the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil was come upon them.

Bible in Basic English

And the men of Israel had made a turn about, and the men of Benjamin were overcome with fear, for they saw that evil had overtaken them.

Free Bible Version

they turned on their enemies. The Benjamites were horrified when they saw it and realized they were doomed.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then the men of Israel turned againe, and the men of Beniamin were astonied: for they saw that euill was neere vnto them.

King James (Authorized) Version

And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.

Translation for Translators

Then the main group of Israeli men also saw the smoke, and they knew that the smoke signaled that they should turn around and begin to attack. The men of the tribe of Benjamin were very afraid, because they realized that they were about to suffer a disastrous defeat.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then the people of Israel turned against them. The men of Benjamin were terrified, for they saw that disaster had come on them.

Noah Webster Bible

And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil had come upon them.

World English Bible

The men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that disaster had come on them.

Young's Literal Translation

And the men of Israel have turned, and the men of Benjamin are troubled, for they have seen that the evil hath stricken against them —

Context

Civil War against Benjamin

⁴⁰But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw the whole city going up in smoke.⁴¹Then the men of Israel turned back on them, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they realized that disaster had come upon them.⁴²So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there.

Summary

In this verse, the men of Israel had set an ambush to defeat the Benjamites, who were their fellow Israelites. As the battle unfolded, the Israelites had a strategic plan to draw the Benjamites away from their city and into the open where the ambush was waiting. This verse showcases the military tactics employed by the Israelites in their conflict with the tribe of Benjamin, illustrating the intense and strategic nature of the warfare during that time. It reflects the historical account of the civil war among the tribes of Israel, revealing the consequences of sin and division within God's chosen people.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel,.... And fled from them: unto the way of the wilderness; what wilderness is not certain, perhaps the wilderness of Judah; they did not turn directly back towards Gibeah, perceiving that was taken, and in the hands of a body of men that would meet them, and therefore they turned on one side towards the wilderness, if happily they could make their escape thither, and shelter themselves: but the battle overtook them; that is, they that made war, as the Targum, the Israelites that were engaged in battle with them pursued them, and overtook them: and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them; either the Israelites that came out of their cities to assist their brethren destroyed the Benjaminites as they fled, or the Benjaminites who came out of other cities to Gibeah, these were destroyed in the midst of it with the inhabitants, by the liers in wait, when they entered it.