Judges 20

שופטים פרק כ׳

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: Judges | Chapter: 20 of 21 | Day: 44 of 742

Date: March 27, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Judges 20 is one of the most devastating chapters in the entire biblical canon, narrating an internecine war that nearly annihilates the tribe of Benjamin. The chapter functions as the climactic act of the three-chapter epilogue (chapters 19-21) that closes the book of Judges, and its literary design is both sophisticated and deeply unsettling. What begins as a justified demand for communal accountability — the assembly at Mizpah (ha-Mitzpah) responding to the atrocity at Gibeah — escalates into a total war whose consequences far exceed the original crime. The phrase “from Dan to Beer-sheba” (mi-Dan ve-ad Be’er Sheva) signals a rare moment of pan-Israelite unity, yet the chapter exposes how even collective moral outrage, when untempered by wisdom and genuine repentance, can produce catastrophic results.

The narrative structure is built around three successive battles, each revealing a different dimension of the relationship between Israel and God. In the first two engagements, despite their overwhelming numerical superiority of 400,000 against Benjamin’s 26,700, Israel suffers staggering defeats: 22,000 fallen on the first day and 18,000 on the second. The classical commentators, particularly Rashi and Radak drawing on Sanhedrin 103b, explain these losses as divine punishment for a telling moral inconsistency — Israel mobilized to avenge the violation of a human being at Gibeah but had previously ignored the idolatry of Micah’s graven image (pesel Mikhah) described in chapters 17-18. God’s rebuke, delivered through military defeat, carries a pointed theological message: selective moral outrage that champions interpersonal justice while tolerating offenses against the divine order reveals a flawed spiritual foundation.

The turning point comes before the third battle, when Israel’s inquiry at the sanctuary undergoes a qualitative transformation. In the first two consultations, the Israelites ask only procedural questions — “Who shall go up first?” and “Shall we fight again?” — receiving ambiguous divine responses that authorize engagement without promising victory. Only on the third occasion, with the text now explicitly noting the presence of the Ark of the Covenant (Aron Brit ha-Elohim) and the High Priest Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron, does Israel ask the complete question: “Shall we go out again, or shall we cease?” (ha-osif od latzeit la-milchamah… im echdal). God’s response is correspondingly unambiguous: “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hands” (alu ki machar etnennu be-yadekha). The progression in the quality of Israel’s prayer — from presumptuous certainty to weeping and fasting to genuine surrender — mirrors a process of teshuvah that the text presents as prerequisite for divine assistance.

The military stratagem Israel employs on the third day — a feigned retreat drawing Benjamin out of Gibeah while an ambush force seizes and burns the city — bears striking resemblance to Joshua’s conquest of Ai in Joshua 8. This literary parallel is unlikely accidental; it invites the reader to compare the generation that conquered the land under Joshua’s leadership with the generation that now turns the same tactics against fellow Israelites. The signal of the column of smoke (mas’et he-ashan) rising from Gibeah echoes the smoke of Ai and Sodom alike, and the total destruction visited upon Benjamin — 25,100 warriors killed, cities burned, civilians put to the sword — raises uncomfortable questions about proportionality and the moral cost of collective punishment.

The chapter’s concluding verses, in which only 600 Benjaminite men survive by fleeing to the Rock of Rimmon (Sela ha-Rimmon), set the stage for the desperate crisis of chapter 21. Read within the broader architecture of Judges, this chapter stands as the ultimate illustration of the book’s recurring refrain: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (ish ha-yashar be-einav ya’aseh). The tragedy is not simply that a crime occurred at Gibeah, but that the response to that crime, pursued without adequate spiritual self-examination, nearly destroyed an entire tribe and tore apart the fabric of the Israelite confederation. The theological lesson embedded in the narrative is that righteous indignation, however justified, must be accompanied by introspection and humility before God — a theme that resonates far beyond the historical circumstances of the period of the Judges.

פרק כ׳ · Chapter 20

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיֵּצְאוּ֮ כׇּל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַתִּקָּהֵ֨ל הָעֵדָ֜ה כְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֗ד לְמִדָּן֙ וְעַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע וְאֶ֖רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֑ד אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה הַמִּצְפָּֽה׃

English:

Thereupon all the Israelites—from Dan to Beer-sheba and [from] the land of Gilead—marched forth, and the community assembled as one, before GOD at Mizpah.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֞וּ פִּנּ֣וֹת כׇּל־הָעָ֗ם כֹּ֚ל שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בִּקְהַ֖ל עַ֣ם הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֛לֶף אִ֥ישׁ רַגְלִ֖י שֹׁ֥לֵֽף־חָֽרֶב׃ {פ}

English:

All the leaders of the people [and] all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people, 400,000 fighters on foot.—

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַֽיִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן כִּֽי־עָל֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל דַּבְּר֕וּ אֵיכָ֥ה נִהְיְתָ֖ה הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

English:

The Benjaminites heard that the Israelites had come up to Mizpah.aThis sentence is continued at v. 14 below.—The Israelites said, “Tell us, how did this evil thing happen?”

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֜עַן הָאִ֣ישׁ הַלֵּוִ֗י אִ֛ישׁ הָאִשָּׁ֥ה הַנִּרְצָחָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַגִּבְעָ֙תָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן בָּ֛אתִי אֲנִ֥י וּפִילַגְשִׁ֖י לָלֽוּן׃

English:

And that Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, replied, “My concubine and I came to Gibeah of Benjamin to spend the night.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיָּקֻ֤מוּ עָלַי֙ בַּעֲלֵ֣י הַגִּבְעָ֔ה וַיָּסֹ֧בּוּ עָלַ֛י אֶת־הַבַּ֖יִת לָ֑יְלָה אוֹתִי֙ דִּמּ֣וּ לַהֲרֹ֔ג וְאֶת־פִּילַגְשִׁ֥י עִנּ֖וּ וַתָּמֹֽת׃

English:

The citizens of Gibeah set out to harm me. They gathered against me around the house in the night; they meant to kill me, and they abused my concubine until she died.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וָאֹחֵ֤ז בְּפִֽילַגְשִׁי֙ וָֽאֲנַתְּחֶ֔הָ וָֽאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֔הָ בְּכׇל־שְׂדֵ֖ה נַחֲלַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֥י עָשׂ֛וּ זִמָּ֥ה וּנְבָלָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

So I took hold of my concubine and I cut her in pieces and sent them through every part of Israel’s territory. For an outrageous act of depravity had been committed in Israel.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

הִנֵּ֥ה כֻלְּכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הָב֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם דָּבָ֥ר וְעֵצָ֖ה הֲלֹֽם׃

English:

Now you are all Israelites; produce a plan of action here and now!”

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֙קׇם֙ כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם כְּאִ֥ישׁ אֶחָ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹ֤א נֵלֵךְ֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְאׇהֳל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א נָס֖וּר אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃

English:

Then all the people rose as one and declared, “We will not go back to our homes, we will not enter our houses!

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּ֕ה זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשֶׂ֖ה לַגִּבְעָ֑ה עָלֶ֖יהָ בְּגוֹרָֽל׃

English:

But this is what we will do to Gibeah: [we will wage war] against it according to lot.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וְלָקַ֣חְנוּ עֲשָׂרָה֩ אֲנָשִׁ֨ים לַמֵּאָ֜ה לְכֹ֣ל ׀ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וּמֵאָ֤ה לָאֶ֙לֶף֙ וְאֶ֣לֶף לָֽרְבָבָ֔ה לָקַ֥חַת צֵדָ֖ה לָעָ֑ם לַעֲשׂ֗וֹת לְבוֹאָם֙ לְגֶ֣בַע בִּנְיָמִ֔ן כְּכׇ֨ל־הַנְּבָלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

We will take from all the tribes of Israel ten of every hundred, a hundred of every thousand, and a thousand of every ten thousand to supply provisions for the troops—to prepare for their going to Geba in Benjaminbto prepare for their going to Geba in Benjamin Emendation yields “for those who go to requite Gibeah.” for all the outrage it has committed in Israel.”

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיֵּאָסֵ֞ף כׇּל־אִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־הָעִ֔יר כְּאִ֥ישׁ אֶחָ֖ד חֲבֵרִֽים׃ {פ}

English:

So Israel’s entire force, united as one, massed against the town.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֞וּ שִׁבְטֵ֤י יִשְׂרָ��ֵל֙ אֲנָשִׁ֔ים בְּכׇל־שִׁבְטֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר מָ֚ה הָרָעָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִהְיְתָ֖ה בָּכֶֽם׃

English:

And the tribes of Israel sent agents through the whole tribectribe Heb. plural. of Benjamin, saying, “What is this evil thing that has happened among you?

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּ֡ה תְּנוּ֩ אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֨ים בְּנֵי־בְלִיַּ֜עַל אֲשֶׁ֤ר בַּגִּבְעָה֙ וּנְמִיתֵ֔ם וּנְבַעֲרָ֥ה רָעָ֖ה מִיִּש��ְרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א אָבוּ֙ [בְּנֵ֣י] בִנְיָמִ֔ן לִשְׁמֹ֕עַ בְּק֖וֹל אֲחֵיהֶ֥ם בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

Come, hand over those scoundrels in Gibeah so that we may put them to death and stamp out the evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not yield to the demand of their fellow Israelites.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיֵּאָסְפ֧וּ בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֛ן מִן־הֶעָרִ֖ים הַגִּבְעָ֑תָה לָצֵ֥את לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

So the Benjaminites gathered from their towns to Gibeah in order to take the field against the Israelites.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיִּתְפָּֽקְדוּ֩ בְנֵ֨י בִנְיָמִ֜ן בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ מֵהֶ֣עָרִ֔ים עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְשִׁשָּׁ֥ה אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ שֹׁ֣לֵֽף חָ֑רֶב לְ֠בַ֠ד מִיֹּשְׁבֵ֤י הַגִּבְעָה֙ הִתְפָּ֣קְד֔וּ שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת אִ֥ישׁ בָּחֽוּר׃

English:

dMeaning of parts of vv. 15 and 16 uncertain. On that day the Benjaminites mustered from the towns 26,000 fighters, mustered apart from the inhabitants of Gibeah; 700 elite troops

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

מִכֹּ֣ל ׀ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה שְׁבַ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ בָּח֔וּר אִטֵּ֖ר יַד־יְמִינ֑וֹ כׇּל־זֶ֗ה קֹלֵ֧עַ בָּאֶ֛בֶן אֶל־הַֽשַּׂעֲרָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א יַחֲטִֽא׃ {פ}

English:

of these forces—700 of the best troops—were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וְאִ֨ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל הִתְפָּֽקְד֗וּ לְבַד֙ מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ שֹׁ֣לֵֽף חָ֑רֶב כׇּל־זֶ֖ה אִ֥ישׁ מִלְחָמָֽה׃

English:

Those on Israel’s side—other than Benjamin—mustered 400,000 fighters, every one of them a warrior.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיָּקֻ֜מוּ וַיַּעֲל֣וּ בֵֽית־אֵל֮ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ בֵאלֹהִים֒ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִ֚י יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֣נוּ בַתְּחִלָּ֔ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה יְהוּדָ֥ה בַתְּחִלָּֽה׃

English:

They proceeded to Bethel and inquired of God; the Israelites asked, “Who of us shall advance first to fight the Benjaminites?” And GOD replied, “Judah first.”

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַיָּק֥וּמוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ עַל־הַגִּבְעָֽה׃

English:

So the Israelites arose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיֵּצֵא֙ אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וַיַּעַרְכ֨וּ אִתָּ֧ם אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מִלְחָמָ֖ה אֶל־הַגִּבְעָֽה׃

English:

Israel’s side took the field against the Benjaminites; those on Israel’s side drew up in battle order against them at Gibeah.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיֵּצְא֥וּ בְנֵי־בִנְיָמִ֖ן מִן־הַגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁחִ֨יתוּ בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא שְׁנַ֨יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ אָֽרְצָה׃

English:

But the Benjaminites issued from Gibeah, and that day they struck down 22,000 of the Israelites.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֥ק הָעָ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙ לַעֲרֹ֣ךְ מִלְחָמָ֔ה בַּמָּק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁר־עָ֥רְכוּ שָׁ֖ם בַּיּ֥וֹם הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃

English:

Now the army—Israel’s side—rallied and again drew up in battle order at the same place as they had on the first day.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַיַּעֲל֣��ּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיִּבְכּ֣וּ לִפְנֵי־יְהֹוָה֮ עַד־הָעֶ֒רֶב֒ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֤וּ בַֽיהֹוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַאוֹסִ֗יף לָגֶ֙שֶׁת֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עִם־בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן אָחִ֑י וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה עֲל֥וּ אֵלָֽיו׃ {פ}

English:

For the Israelites had gone up and wept before GOD until evening. They had inquired of GOD, “Shall we again join battle with our kinsmen the Benjaminites?” And GOD had replied, “March against them.”

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְרְב֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃

English:

The Israelites advanced against the Benjaminites on the second day.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַיֵּצֵא֩ בִנְיָמִ֨ן ׀ לִקְרָאתָ֥ם ׀ מִֽן־הַגִּבְעָה֮ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשֵּׁנִי֒ וַיַּשְׁחִ֩יתוּ֩ בִבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל ע֗וֹד שְׁמֹנַ֨ת עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ אָ֑רְצָה כׇּל־אֵ֖לֶּה שֹׁ֥לְפֵי חָֽרֶב׃

English:

But the Benjaminites came out from Gibeah against them on the second day and struck down 18,000 more of the Israelites, all of them fighters.

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וַיַּעֲל֣וּ כׇל־בְּנֵי֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל וְכׇל־הָעָ֜ם וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ בֵֽית־אֵ֗ל וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ שָׁם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיָּצ֥וּמוּ בַיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא עַד־הָעָ֑רֶב וַֽיַּעֲל֛וּ עֹל֥וֹת ו��שְׁלָמִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Then all the Israelites, all the army, went up and came to Bethel and they sat there, weeping before GOD. They fasted that day until evening, and presented burnt offerings and offerings of well-being to GOD.

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּיהֹוָ֑ה וְשָׁ֗ם אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים בַּיָּמִ֖ים הָהֵֽם׃

English:

The Israelites inquired of GOD (for the Ark of God’s Covenant was there in those days,

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וּ֠פִֽינְחָ֠ס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֨ר בֶּֽן־אַהֲרֹ֜ן עֹמֵ֣ד ׀ לְפָנָ֗יו בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵם֮ לֵאמֹר֒ הַאוֹסִ֨ף ע֜וֹד לָצֵ֧את לַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה עִם־בְּנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֥ן אָחִ֖י אִם־אֶחְדָּ֑ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ עֲל֔וּ כִּ֥י מָחָ֖ר אֶתְּנֶ֥נּוּ בְיָדֶֽךָ׃

English:

and Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest ministered before [God] in those days), “Shall we again take the field against our kinsmen the Benjaminites, or shall we not?” GOD answered, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hands.”

פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֤שֶׂם יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֹֽרְבִ֔ים אֶל־הַגִּבְעָ֖ה סָבִֽיב׃ {פ}

English:

Israel set up ambushes against Gibeah on all sides.

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

וַיַּעֲל֧וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י וַיַּעַרְכ֥וּ אֶל־הַגִּבְעָ֖ה כְּפַ֥עַם בְּפָֽעַם׃

English:

And on the third day, the Israelites went up against the Benjaminites, as before, and engaged them in battle at Gibeah.

פסוק ל״א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

וַיֵּצְא֤וּ בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִן֙ לִקְרַ֣את הָעָ֔ם הׇנְתְּק֖וּ מִן־הָעִ֑יר וַיָּחֵ֡לּוּ לְהַכּוֹת֩ מֵהָעָ֨ם חֲלָלִ֜ים כְּפַ��עַם ׀ בְּפַ֗עַם בַּֽמְסִלּוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַחַ֜ת עֹלָ֣ה בֵֽית־אֵ֗ל וְאַחַ֤ת גִּבְעָ֙תָה֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

The Benjaminites dashed out to meet the army and were drawn away from the town onto the roads, of which one runs to Bethel and the other to Gibeah. As before, they started out by striking some of the troops dead in the open field, about 30 of the Israelites.

פסוק ל״ב · Verse 32

Hebrew:

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן נִגָּפִ֥ים הֵ֛ם לְפָנֵ֖ינוּ כְּבָרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל אָמְר֗וּ נָנ֙וּסָה֙ וּֽנְתַקְּנ֔וּהוּ מִן־הָעִ֖יר אֶל־הַֽמְסִלּֽוֹת׃

English:

The Benjaminites thought, “They are being routed before us as previously.” But the Israelites had planned: “We will take to flight and draw them away from the town to the roads.”

פסוק ל״ג · Verse 33

Hebrew:

וְכֹ֣ל ׀ אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל קָ֚מוּ מִמְּקוֹמ֔וֹ וַיַּעַרְכ֖וּ בְּבַ֣עַל תָּמָ֑ר וְאֹרֵ֧ב יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵגִ֥יחַ מִמְּקֹמ֖וֹ מִמַּ֥עֲרֵה גָֽבַע׃

English:

And while everyone else on Israel’s side had moved away from their positions and had drawn up in battle order at Baal-tamar, the Israelite ambush was rushing out from its position at Maareh-geba.eMaareh-geba Emendation yields “west of Gibeah.”

פסוק ל״ד · Verse 34

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֩אוּ֩ מִנֶּ֨גֶד לַגִּבְעָ֜ה עֲשֶׂ֩רֶת֩ אֲלָפִ֨ים אִ֤ישׁ בָּחוּר֙ מִכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה כָּבֵ֑דָה וְהֵם֙ לֹ֣א יָדְע֔וּ כִּי־נֹגַ֥עַת עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם הָרָעָֽה׃ {פ}

English:

Thus 10,000 of the best troops from all Israel came to a point south offsouth of So many Heb. mss. and Targum; most mss. and the editions read “opposite.” Gibeah, and the battle was furious. Before they realized that disaster was approaching,

פסוק ל״ה · Verse 35

Hebrew:

וַיִּגֹּ֨ף יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ אֶֽת־בִּנְיָמִן֮ לִפְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיַּשְׁחִ֩יתוּ֩ בְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל בְּבִנְיָמִן֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה אֶ֛לֶף וּמֵאָ֖ה אִ֑ישׁ כׇּל־אֵ֖לֶּה שֹׁ֥לֵֽף־חָֽרֶב׃

English:

GOD routed the Benjaminites before Israel. That day the Israelites slew 25,100 of the Benjaminites, all of them fighters.

פסוק ל״ו · Verse 36

Hebrew:

וַיִּרְא֥וּ בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֖ן כִּ֣י נִגָּ֑פוּ וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל מָקוֹם֙ לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן כִּ֤י בָֽטְחוּ֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֹרֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֖מוּ אֶל־הַגִּבְעָֽה׃

English:

Then the Benjaminites realized that they were routed.gThen the Benjaminites realized that they were routed This sentence is continued by v. 45. Now the rest of Israel’s side had yielded ground to the Benjaminites, for they relied on the ambush that they had laid against Gibeah.

פסוק ל״ז · Verse 37

Hebrew:

וְהָאֹרֵ֣ב הֵחִ֔ישׁוּ וַֽיִּפְשְׁט֖וּ אֶל־הַגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיִּמְשֹׁךְ֙ הָאֹרֵ֔ב וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־כׇּל־הָעִ֖יר לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃

English:

One ambush quickly deployed against Gibeah, and the other ambush advanced and put the whole town to the sword.

פסוק ל״ח · Verse 38

Hebrew:

וְהַמּוֹעֵ֗ד הָיָ֛ה לְאִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עִם־הָאֹרֵ֑ב הֶ֕רֶב לְהַעֲלוֹתָ֛ם מַשְׂאַ֥ת הֶעָשָׁ֖ן מִן־הָעִֽיר׃

English:

A time had been agreed upon by the rest of Israel’s side with those in ambush: When a huge column of smoke was sent up from the town,

פסוק ל״ט · Verse 39

Hebrew:

וַיַּהֲפֹ֥ךְ אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וּבִנְיָמִ֡ן הֵחֵל֩ לְהַכּ֨וֹת חֲלָלִ֤ים בְּאִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ כִּ֣י אָֽמְר֔וּ אַךְ֩ נִ��ּ֨וֹף נִגָּ֥ף הוּא֙ לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ כַּמִּלְחָמָ֖ה הָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃

English:

the rest of Israel’s side was to turn about in battle. Benjamin had begun by striking dead about 30 men on Israel’s side, and they thought, “They are being routed before us as in the previous fighting.”

פסוק מ׳ · Verse 40

Hebrew:

וְהַמַּשְׂאֵ֗ת הֵחֵ֛לָּה לַעֲל֥וֹת מִן־הָעִ֖יר עַמּ֣וּד עָשָׁ֑ן וַיִּ֤פֶן בִּנְיָמִן֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו וְהִנֵּ֛ה עָלָ֥ה כְלִיל־הָעִ֖יר הַשָּׁמָֽיְמָה׃

English:

But when the column, the pillar of smoke, began to rise from the city, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and there was the whole town going up in smoke to the sky!

פסוק מ״א · Verse 41

Hebrew:

וְאִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ הָפַ֔ךְ וַיִּבָּהֵ֖ל אִ֣ישׁ בִּנְיָמִ֑ן כִּ֣י רָאָ֔ה כִּֽי־נָגְעָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו הָרָעָֽה׃

English:

And now Israel’s side turned about, and Benjamin’s side was thrown into panic, for they realized that disaster had overtaken them.

פסוק מ״ב · Verse 42

Hebrew:

וַיִּפְנ֞וּ לִפְנֵ֨י אִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְהַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה הִדְבִּיקָ֑תְהוּ וַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ מֵהֶ֣עָרִ֔ים מַשְׁחִיתִ֥ים אוֹת֖וֹ בְּתוֹכֽוֹ׃

English:

They retreated before Israel’s force along the road to the wilderness, where the fighting caught up with them; meanwhile those from the townshfrom the towns Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “in the town” (i.e., Gibeah). were massacring them in it.

פסוק מ״ג · Verse 43

Hebrew:

כִּתְּר֤וּ אֶת־בִּנְיָמִן֙ הִרְדִיפֻ֔הוּ מְנוּחָ֖ה הִדְרִיכֻ֑הוּ עַ֛ד נֹ֥כַח הַגִּבְעָ֖ה מִמִּזְרַח־שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃

English:

iMeaning of verse uncertain. They encircled the Benjaminites, pursued them, and trod them down [from] Menuhah to a point opposite Gibeah on the east.

פסוק מ״ד · Verse 44

Hebrew:

וַֽיִּפְּלוּ֙ מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן שְׁמֹנָֽה־עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֖לֶף אִ֑ישׁ אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֖לֶּה אַנְשֵׁי־חָֽיִל׃

English:

That day 18,000 of the Benjaminites fell, all of them brave men.

פסוק מ״ה · Verse 45

Hebrew:

וַיִּפְנ֞וּ וַיָּנֻ֤סוּ הַמִּדְב��ָ֙רָה֙ אֶל־סֶ֣לַע הָרִמּ֔וֹן וַיְעֹלְלֻ֙הוּ֙ בַּֽמְסִלּ֔וֹת חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּדְבִּ֤יקוּ אַֽחֲרָיו֙ עַד־גִּדְעֹ֔ם וַיַּכּ֥וּ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ אַלְפַּ֥יִם אִֽישׁ׃

English:

They turned and fled to the wilderness, to the Rock of Rimmon; but [the Israelites] picked off another 5,000 on the roads and, continuing in hot pursuit of them up to Gidom, they slew 2,000 more.

פסוק מ״ו · Verse 46

Hebrew:

וַיְהִי֩ כׇל־הַנֹּ֨פְלִ֜ים מִבִּנְיָמִ֗ן עֶשְׂרִים֩ וַחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה אֶ֥לֶף אִ֛ישׁ שֹׁ֥לֵֽף חֶ֖רֶב בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֖לֶּה אַנְשֵׁי־חָֽיִל׃

English:

Thus the Benjaminite fighters who fell that day numbered 25,000, all of them brave men.

פסוק מ״ז · Verse 47

Hebrew:

וַיִּפְנ֞וּ וַיָּנֻ֤סוּ הַמִּדְבָּ֙רָה֙ אֶל־סֶ֣לַע הָרִמּ֔וֹן שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וַיֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ בְּסֶ֣לַע רִמּ֔וֹן אַרְבָּעָ֖ה חֳדָשִֽׁים׃

English:

But 600 others turned and fled to the wilderness, to the Rock of Rimmon; they remained at the Rock of Rimmon four months.

פסוק מ״ח · Verse 48

Hebrew:

וְאִ֨ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל שָׁ֣בוּ אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י בִנְיָמִן֙ וַיַּכּ֣וּם לְפִי־חֶ֔רֶב מֵעִ֤יר מְתֹם֙ עַד־בְּהֵמָ֔ה עַ֖ד כׇּל־הַנִּמְצָ֑א גַּ֛ם כׇּל־הֶעָרִ֥ים הַנִּמְצָא֖וֹת שִׁלְּח֥וּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃ {פ}

English:

Those on Israel’s side, meanwhile, turned back to the rest of the Benjaminites and put them to the sword—towns, people, cattle—everything that remained. Finally, they set fire to all the towns that were left.

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