Judges 20:36-46

36So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were 1defeated. 2When the men of Israel gave 3ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah,

374the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush also deployed and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

38Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was 5that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city.

39Then the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike 6and kill about thirty men of Israel, 7for they said, “Surely they are 8defeated before us, as in the first battle.”

40But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, Benjamin looked 9behind them; and behold, the whole city was going up in smoke to heaven.

41Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were terrified; for they saw that 1011disaster was 12close to them.

42Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel 13toward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them while those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of them.

4314They surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest and trod them down opposite Gibeah toward the 15east.

44Thus 18,000 men of Benjamin fell; all these were valiant warriors.

4516The rest turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of 17Rimmon, but they 18caught 5,000 of them on the highways and overtook them 19at Gidom and 20killed 2,000 of them.

46So all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 men who draw the sword; all these were valiant warriors.