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 Israelites left early the next morning and camped near Gibeah. 20Then they advanced toward Gibeah to attack the men of Benjamin. But Benjamin’s warriors, who were defending the town, came out and killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day. 22But the Israelites encouraged each other and took their positions again at the same place they had fought the previous day. 23For they had gone up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the Lord until evening. They had asked the Lord, “Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again?” And the Lord had said, “Go out and fight against 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, devouring his enemies in the morning and dividing his plunder in the evening.”
• Hosea 10:9The Lord says, “O Israel, ever since Gibeah, there has been only sin and more sin! You have made no progress whatsoever. Was it not right that the wicked men of Gibeah were attacked?
• Deuteronomy 23:9“When you go to war against your enemies, be sure to stay away from anything that is impure.
• 2 Chronicles 28:10And now you are planning to make slaves of these people from Judah and Jerusalem. What about your own sins against the Lord your God?
• Psalms 33:16The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
• Psalms 73:18Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
• Psalms 77:19Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there!
• Ecclesiastes 9:1This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor.
• Jeremiah 12:1Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?

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