English Standard Version
Judges 20:21
21The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.
Judges 20:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
- New International Version (NIV)The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But Benjamin’s warriors, who were defending the town, came out and killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.
Context of Judges 20:21
19Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. 20And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites. 22But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day. 23And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, "Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Go up against them."
Read all of Judges 20Judges 20:21 word by word
וַיֵּצְא֥וּ בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֖ן מִן־הַגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁחִ֨יתוּ בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא שְׁנַ֨יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ אָֽרְצָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
- came forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- out of Gibeahגִּבְעָהgib‛âh · GibeahH1390
- and destroyed downשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
- to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
- of the Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- twentyעֶשְׂרִים‛eώrîym · twentyH6242
- and twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
- menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
Cross-references for Judges 20:21
- Genesis 49:27"Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil."
- Hosea 10:9From the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel; there they have continued. Shall not the war against the unjust overtake them in Gibeah?
- Deuteronomy 23:9"When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every evil thing.
- 2 Chronicles 28:10And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the Lord your God?
- Psalms 33:16The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
- Psalms 73:18Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.
- Psalms 77:19Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.
- Ecclesiastes 9:1But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.
- Jeremiah 12:1Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
Commentaries on Judges 20:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Destroyed down to the ground - twenty-two thousand men - That is, so many were left dead on the field of battle.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Gibeah, being on a hill, was difficult of access to an attacking army, and gave great advantage to the defenders, who fought from higher ground, and probably defended a narrow pass, while their companions on the walls could gall the assailants with their slingstones.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21The three battles occurred near the city. Despite having more troops and seeking guidance from the Lord, the Israelites were defeated by the defenders on the first day.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2818-28. the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God--This consultation at Shiloh was right. But they ought to have done it at the commencement of their proceedings. Instead of this, all their plans were formed, and never doubting, it would seem, that the war was just and inevitable, the only subject of their inquiry related to the precedency of the tribes--a point which it is likely was discussed in the assembly. Had they asked counsel of…Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 20:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Judges 20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries