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

19So the sons of Israel arose in the morning and camped against Gibeah. 20The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arrayed for battle against them at Gibeah. Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and felled to the ground on that day 22,000 men of Israel. 22But the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again in the place where they had arrayed themselves the first day. 23The sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall we again draw near for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against him.”

Judges 20:21 word by word

וַיֵּצְא֥וּ בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֖ן מִן־הַגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁחִ֨יתוּ בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא שְׁנַ֨יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ אָֽרְצָה׃Read the interlinear

• Then the sonsבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
• cameיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• out of Gibeahגִּבְעָהgib‛âh · GibeahH1390
• felledשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
• to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• on that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• 22,000שְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• 22,000עֶשְׂרִים‛eώrîym · twentyH6242
• 22,000אֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Judges 20:21

• Genesis 49:27“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he devours the prey, And in the evening he divides the spoil.”
• Hosea 10:9From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel; There they stand! Will not the battle against the sons of iniquity overtake them in Gibeah?
• Deuteronomy 23:9“When you go out as an army against your enemies, you shall keep yourself from every evil thing.
• 2 Chronicles 28:10Now you are proposing to subjugate for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and female slaves. Surely, do you not have transgressions of your own against the Lord your God?
• Psalms 33:16The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
• Psalms 73:18Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.
• Psalms 77:19Your way was in the sea And Your paths in the mighty waters, And Your footprints may not be known.
• Ecclesiastes 9:1For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him.
• Jeremiah 12:1Righteous are You, O Lord, that I would plead my case with You; Indeed I would discuss matters of justice with You: Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?

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