This verse describes a critical moment in the civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel, as recounted in Judges 20. Let's break down the meaning:
"The children of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.”" - This refers to the first two days of battle. In the previous days (Judges 20:21, 20:25), the Benjamites had successfully repelled the Israelite army, inflicting significant casualties. The Benjamites, emboldened by these initial victories, are now saying that the current battle is going just as well for them. They believe they are winning.
"But the children of Israel said, “Let us flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.”" - This reveals a deliberate tactic employed by the Israelites. They are pretending to be losing and retreating. Their plan is to lure the Benjamites away from their fortified city of Gibeah and onto the open roads ("highways"). This would make the Benjamites more vulnerable to a larger ambush, as the Israelites had a much bigger army. The flight wasn't a genuine rout; it was a calculated military maneuver.
In Summary:
The verse highlights the contrast between the Benjamites' perception of their victory and the Israelites' deceptive strategy. The Benjamites are confident and overestimating their success, while the Israelites are feigning defeat to execute a well-planned ambush. This shows a turning point where the Israelites are changing strategy after their initial defeats and about to outsmart the Benjamites.
This verse describes a critical moment in the civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel, as recounted in Judges 20. Let's break down the meaning:
"The children of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.”" - This refers to the first two days of battle. In the previous days (Judges 20:21, 20:25), the Benjamites had successfully repelled the Israelite army, inflicting significant casualties. The Benjamites, emboldened by these initial victories, are now saying that the current battle is going just as well for them. They believe they are winning.
"But the children of Israel said, “Let us flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.”" - This reveals a deliberate tactic employed by the Israelites. They are pretending to be losing and retreating. Their plan is to lure the Benjamites away from their fortified city of Gibeah and onto the open roads ("highways"). This would make the Benjamites more vulnerable to a larger ambush, as the Israelites had a much bigger army. The flight wasn't a genuine rout; it was a calculated military maneuver.
In Summary:
The verse highlights the contrast between the Benjamites' perception of their victory and the Israelites' deceptive strategy. The Benjamites are confident and overestimating their success, while the Israelites are feigning defeat to execute a well-planned ambush. This shows a turning point where the Israelites are changing strategy after their initial defeats and about to outsmart the Benjamites.
