Judges 20:21

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.
• 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.

Context of Judges 20:21

19The Israelites got up early in the morning and camped at Gibeah. 20So the men of Israel went to war with the men of Benjamin. The Israelites formed their battle line facing Gibeah. That day the men of Benjamin came out from Gibeah. They slaughtered 22,000 of Israel’s men. 22But Israel’s troops got reinforcements. They formed their battle line where they had formed it on the first day. 23The Israelites went and cried in the presence of the Lord until evening. They asked the Lord, “Should we continue to wage war against our close relatives, the men of Benjamin?” The Lord answered, “Go fight them!”

Judges 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 he devours his prey. In the evening he divides the plunder.”
• Hosea 10:9Israel, you have sinned ever since the incident at Gibeah. You never change. War will overtake the wicked people in Gibeah.
• Deuteronomy 23:9When you’re at war and have set up camp to fight your enemies, stay away from anything that will make you unclean.
• 2 Chronicles 28:10Now you intend to enslave the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But aren’t you also guilty of sinning against the Lord your God?
• Psalms 33:16No king achieves a victory with a large army. No warrior rescues himself by his own great strength.
• Psalms 73:18You put them in slippery places and make them fall into ruin.
• Psalms 77:19Your road went through the sea. Your path went through raging water, but your footprints could not be seen.
• Ecclesiastes 9:1Now, I have carefully thought about all this, and I explain it in this way: Righteous people and wise people, along with their accomplishments, are in God’s hands. No one knows whether there will be love or hatred.
• Jeremiah 12:1O Lord, even if I would argue my case with you, you would always be right. Yet, I want to talk to you about your justice. Why do wicked people succeed? Why do treacherous people have peace and quiet?

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

• Vows

In the dictionaries

• Benjamin
• Gibeah
• That Day
• Congregation
• Fetch
• Glean
• Trust
• Wickedness
• Wolf
• Archery

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