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 Bnei-Yisrael rose up in the morning and camped against Gibeah. 20The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and arrayed for battle against Gibeah. But the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and struck down 22,000 men of Israel on the field that day. 22But the people of the men of Israel rallied their strength and arrayed for battle again in the same place where they had arrayed themselves the first day. 23Yet Bnei-Yisrael went up and wept before Adonai until evening, then inquired of Adonai saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?” Adonai 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

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 49:27Benjamin is a ravening wolf— in the morning he devours spoils, and in the evening divides plunder.
• Hosea 10:9“From the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel. There they took their stand. Will not war over sons of iniquity overtake them in Gibeah?
• Deuteronomy 23:9The children born to them—the third generation—may enter the community of Adonai.
• 2 Chronicles 28:10So now you intend to bring into bondage the children of Judah and Jerusalem as your male and female slaves? Are you not also guilty of transgressions against Adonai your God?
• Psalms 33:16No king is saved by his great army, no warrior is delivered by great strength.
• Psalms 73:18Surely You put them in slippery places. You hurled them down to destruction.
• Psalms 77:19The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind. Lightning lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.
• Ecclesiastes 9:1For all this I laid on my heart and to ascertain all this: that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works are in the hand of God. Whether love or hatred, no one knows—everything awaits them.
• Jeremiah 12:1Righteous are You, Adonai, when I plead my case with You. Yet I speak with You about justice. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the 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

• 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