Judges 20:31 - The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike and kill of the people, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
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What does "Judges 20:31" mean?
This verse from Judges 20:31 describes a specific moment during the civil war between the other tribes of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, following the incident in Gibeah (detailed in Judges 19). Let's break down the meaning:
"The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city": This means the Benjamites left their fortified city to engage in battle with the other Israelite tribes. The phrase "drawn away from the city" suggests a tactic, either deliberate or unintentional. The Benjamites were lured or ventured out from the safety of their city walls.
"and they began to strike and kill of the people, as at other times": This indicates that the Benjamites were initially successful in the battle. They inflicted casualties on the other Israelites, much like they had done in previous engagements during this conflict.
"in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah, in the field": This describes the location of the fighting. The Benjamites were attacking the other Israelites along the roads leading to Bethel and Gibeah, and also in the open fields surrounding those roads. This gives the sense of ambushes and scattered fighting.
"about thirty men of Israel": This specifies the number of Israelite soldiers killed in this particular encounter. This loss highlights the early success of Benjamin's initial strategy.
In essence, the verse describes a moment where the Benjamites, leaving the security of their city, ambushed and killed approximately thirty Israelite soldiers on the roads leading to Bethel and Gibeah. It showcases the Benjamites' initial success in the battle, and sets the stage for the larger conflict described in the rest of the chapter.
Context is Key:
To fully understand this verse, remember the context of Judges 19-21:
A Levite's concubine was raped and murdered in Gibeah, a city in Benjamin.
The other tribes of Israel demanded that the Benjamites hand over the perpetrators for justice.
The Benjamites refused, leading to civil war.
The other tribes of Israel are fighting to uphold justice and maintain order.
This verse reflects the ongoing violence and back-and-forth nature of the conflict. Despite their smaller numbers, the Benjamites were initially holding their own against the other tribes. It's a grim and brutal snapshot of a nation tearing itself apart.
Judges 20:31 - The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike and kill of the people, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
What does "Judges 20:31" mean?
This verse from Judges 20:31 describes a specific moment during the civil war between the other tribes of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, following the incident in Gibeah (detailed in Judges 19). Let's break down the meaning:
"The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city": This means the Benjamites left their fortified city to engage in battle with the other Israelite tribes. The phrase "drawn away from the city" suggests a tactic, either deliberate or unintentional. The Benjamites were lured or ventured out from the safety of their city walls.
"and they began to strike and kill of the people, as at other times": This indicates that the Benjamites were initially successful in the battle. They inflicted casualties on the other Israelites, much like they had done in previous engagements during this conflict.
"in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah, in the field": This describes the location of the fighting. The Benjamites were attacking the other Israelites along the roads leading to Bethel and Gibeah, and also in the open fields surrounding those roads. This gives the sense of ambushes and scattered fighting.
"about thirty men of Israel": This specifies the number of Israelite soldiers killed in this particular encounter. This loss highlights the early success of Benjamin's initial strategy.
In essence, the verse describes a moment where the Benjamites, leaving the security of their city, ambushed and killed approximately thirty Israelite soldiers on the roads leading to Bethel and Gibeah. It showcases the Benjamites' initial success in the battle, and sets the stage for the larger conflict described in the rest of the chapter.
Context is Key:
To fully understand this verse, remember the context of Judges 19-21:
A Levite's concubine was raped and murdered in Gibeah, a city in Benjamin.
The other tribes of Israel demanded that the Benjamites hand over the perpetrators for justice.
The Benjamites refused, leading to civil war.
The other tribes of Israel are fighting to uphold justice and maintain order.
This verse reflects the ongoing violence and back-and-forth nature of the conflict. Despite their smaller numbers, the Benjamites were initially holding their own against the other tribes. It's a grim and brutal snapshot of a nation tearing itself apart.