Judges 20:39
New International Version
and then the Israelites would counterattack. The Benjamites had begun to inflict casualties on the Israelites (about thirty), and they said, “We are defeating them as in the first battle.”

New Living Translation
When the Israelites saw the smoke, they turned and attacked Benjamin’s warriors. By that time Benjamin’s warriors had killed about thirty Israelites, and they shouted, “We’re defeating them as we did in the first battle!”

English Standard Version
the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel. They said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.”

Berean Standard Bible
the men of Israel would turn in the battle. When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.”

King James Bible
And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.

New King James Version
whereupon the men of Israel would turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty of the men of Israel. For they said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.”

New American Standard Bible
Then the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, for they said, “Undoubtedly they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.”

NASB 1995
Then the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, for they said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.”

NASB 1977
Then the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, for they said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So the men of Israel had turned around in the battle, and Benjamin had begun to strike and slay about thirty men of Israel, for they said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.”

Amplified Bible
So the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, for they said, “Certainly they are defeated before us as in the first battle!”

Christian Standard Bible
the men of Israel would return to the battle. When Benjamin had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They’re defeated before us, just as they were in the first battle.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
the men of Israel would return to the battle. When Benjamin had begun to strike them down, killing about 30 men of Israel, they said, “They’re defeated before us, just as they were in the first battle.”

American Standard Version
And the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.

English Revised Version
And the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the men of Israel would turn around in the battle. The men of Benjamin had already killed about 30 men of Israel. They even said, "Israel is completely defeated, just like in the first battle."

Good News Translation
the Israelites out on the battlefield were to turn around. By this time the Benjaminites had already killed the thirty Israelites. They told themselves, "Yes, we've beaten them just as before."

International Standard Version
The army of Israel turned around in the battle, and the army of Benjamin began to attack and kill about 30 soldiers, thinking, "Now we're really defeating them, just like before."

Majority Standard Bible
the men of Israel would turn in the battle. When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.”

NET Bible
the Israelites counterattacked. Benjamin had begun to strike down the Israelites; they struck down about thirty men. They said, "There's no doubt about it! They are totally defeated as in the earlier battle."

New Heart English Bible
The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."

Webster's Bible Translation
And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.

World English Bible
The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, “Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the men of Israel turn in battle, and Benjamin has begun to strike the wounded among the men of Israel, about thirty men, for they said, “Surely they are utterly struck before us, as [at] the first battle”;

Young's Literal Translation
And the men of Israel turn in battle, and Benjamin hath begun to smite the wounded among the men of Israel, about thirty men, for they said, 'Surely they are utterly smitten before us, as at the first battle;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the men of Israel will turn about in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike the wounded among the men of Israel, about thirty men: for they said, Surely, smiting, he was smitten as the first battle.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the children of Israel saw this in the battle (for the children of Benjamin thought they fled and pursued them vigorously, killing thirty men of their army)

Catholic Public Domain Version
And then, the sons of Israel discerned this sign during the battle (for the sons of Benjamin had thought that they fled, and they pursued them forcefully, cutting down thirty men from their army).

New American Bible
and the men of Israel would then wheel about in the battle. Benjamin, having begun by killing off some thirty of the men of Israel, thought, “Surely they are completely routed before us, as in the earlier fighting.”

New Revised Standard Version
the main body of Israel should turn in battle. But Benjamin had begun to inflict casualties on the Israelites, killing about thirty of them; so they thought, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when the men of Israel retreated in the battle, the Benjamites killed of the men of Israel about thirty men; for they said. Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the men of Israel returned from battle and Benjamin began to cast down thirty men, slain of Israel, because they said: “Surely they are defeated from before us, as in the first battle!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said: 'Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the children of Israel saw that the liers in wait had seized Gabaa, and they stood in line of battle; and Benjamin began to smite down wounded ones among the men of Israel about thirty men; for they said, Surely they fall again before us, as in the first battle.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Civil War Against Benjamin
38The men of Israel had arranged a signal with the men in ambush: When they sent up a great cloud of smoke from the city, 39the men of Israel would turn in the battle. When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.” 40But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw the whole city going up in smoke.…

Cross References
Joshua 8:15-19
Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness. / Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city. / Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city wide open while they pursued Israel. ...

2 Samuel 5:23-25
So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. / As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” / So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

2 Kings 3:24-27
But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and attacked them, and they fled before them. So the Israelites invaded their land and struck down the Moabites. / They destroyed the cities, and each man threw stones on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up every spring and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth was left with stones in place, but men with slings surrounded it and attacked it as well. / When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not prevail. ...

Judges 4:16
Then Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and the whole army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a single man was left.

Judges 8:20-21
So he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Get up and kill them.” But the young man did not draw his sword; he was fearful because he was still a youth. / Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Get up and kill us yourself, for as the man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon got up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments from the necks of their camels.

1 Samuel 14:20-23
Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor. / And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. / When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined the battle in close pursuit. ...

1 Samuel 17:52
Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. And the bodies of the Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

2 Samuel 2:25-31
The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill. / Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?” / “As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.” ...

2 Samuel 10:13-14
So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him. / When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

2 Kings 14:12
And Judah was routed before Israel, and every man fled to his home.

Isaiah 10:32-34
Yet today they will halt at Nob, shaking a fist at the mount of Daughter Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem. / Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled. / He will clear the forest thickets with an axe, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.

Jeremiah 46:5-6
Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD. / “The swift cannot flee, and the warrior cannot escape! In the north by the River Euphrates they stumble and fall.

Matthew 24:16-18
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. / Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. / And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

Mark 13:14-16
So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. / Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house. / And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

Luke 21:21-22
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. / For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.


Treasury of Scripture

And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.

And when

Judges 20:31
And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

Jump to Previous
Battle Begun Benjamin Benjamites Casualties Death Defeated Defeating Inflict Israel Kill Overcome Persons Retired Smite Smitten Strike Struck Surely Thirty Turn Turned Utterly Wounded
Jump to Next
Battle Begun Benjamin Benjamites Casualties Death Defeated Defeating Inflict Israel Kill Overcome Persons Retired Smite Smitten Strike Struck Surely Thirty Turn Turned Utterly Wounded
Judges 20
1. The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong
8. The decree of the assembly
12. The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites
18. The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand
26. They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred.














the men of Israel
This phrase refers to the collective tribes of Israel, excluding Benjamin, who had gathered to address the grievous sin committed in Gibeah. Historically, the tribes of Israel were often united in purpose, especially when confronting internal sin or external threats. The Hebrew term for "men" here is "ish," which can denote individuals or a collective group, emphasizing the unity and shared identity of the Israelites as God's chosen people.

would turn in the battle
The phrase indicates a strategic maneuver by the Israelites. The Hebrew root "panah" means to turn or face, suggesting a deliberate tactic rather than a retreat. This reflects the wisdom and cunning sometimes necessary in warfare, even among God's people, to achieve justice and righteousness.

and Benjamin had begun to strike them down
The tribe of Benjamin, though smaller, was known for its fierce warriors. The Hebrew word "nakah" means to strike or smite, indicating the intensity and effectiveness of Benjamin's initial assault. This highlights the tragic reality of civil strife within Israel, where brother fought against brother, a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and disunity.

and kill about thirty men
The specific number "thirty" underscores the tangible cost of conflict. In biblical numerology, numbers often carry symbolic weight. Thirty can represent a period of testing or judgment, as seen in other scriptural contexts. This loss serves as a reminder of the gravity of the situation and the need for divine intervention.

and they said, 'They are defeated before us'
This statement reflects the confidence and perhaps overconfidence of the Benjamites. The Hebrew word "naphal" means to fall or be defeated, indicating their perception of victory. It serves as a cautionary tale about pride and presumption, reminding believers to remain humble and reliant on God, even in apparent success.

as in the first battle
This phrase recalls the initial encounter between the Israelites and Benjamites, where the latter had been victorious. The repetition of history serves as a narrative device to emphasize the cyclical nature of sin and the need for repentance and redemption. It also highlights the importance of learning from past experiences to avoid repeating mistakes.

(39) And when the men of Israel retired.--This merely repeats with more graphic details the fact already mentioned in Judges 20:31. The "when" should be omitted, and from "Benjamin began" to the end of the next verse is parenthetic.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
the men
אִֽישׁ־ (’îš-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

would turn
וַיַּהֲפֹ֥ךְ (way·ya·hă·p̄ōḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert

in the battle.
בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (bam·mil·ḥā·māh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

When the Benjamites
וּבִנְיָמִ֡ן (ū·ḇin·yā·min)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1144: Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelites

had begun
הֵחֵל֩ (hê·ḥêl)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

to strike them down,
לְהַכּ֨וֹת (lə·hak·kō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5221: To strike

killing
חֲלָלִ֤ים (ḥă·lā·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2491: Pierced, polluted

about thirty
כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (kiš·lō·šîm)
Preposition-k | Number - common plural
Strong's 7970: Thirty, thirtieth

men
בְּאִֽישׁ־ (bə·’îš-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

they said,
אָמְר֔וּ (’ā·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“They are
הוּא֙ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

defeated
נִגּ֨וֹף (nig·gō·wp̄)
Verb - Nifal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5062: To push, gore, defeat, stub, inflict

before us
לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ (lə·p̄ā·nê·nū)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 6440: The face

as in the first
הָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃ (hā·ri·šō·nāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

battle.”
כַּמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (kam·mil·ḥā·māh)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war


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OT History: Judges 20:39 The men of Israel turned (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 20:38
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