CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 20:42 So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/20-42.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/07_Jdg_20_42.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 20:42 - Civil War Against Benjamin" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/judges/20-42.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/judges/20-42.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/judges/">Judges</a> > <a href="/judges/20.htm">Chapter 20</a> > Verse 42</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/judges/20-41.htm" title="Judges 20:41">◄</a> Judges 20:42 <a href="/judges/20-43.htm" title="Judges 20:43">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/judges/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />So they fled before the Israelites in the direction of the wilderness, but they could not escape the battle. And the Israelites who came out of the towns cut them down there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So they turned around and fled before the Israelites toward the wilderness. But they couldn’t escape the battle, and the people who came out of the nearby towns were also killed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. And those who came out of the cities were destroying them in their midst.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Therefore they turned <i>their backs</i> before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which <i>came</i> out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Therefore they turned <i>their backs</i> before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them, and whoever <i>came</i> out of the cities they destroyed in their midst.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel <i>to flee</i> in the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them while those who <i>attacked</i> from the cities were annihilating them in the midst of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel toward 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel toward 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel toward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel [and fled] toward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle followed <i>and</i> overtook them. As the [fighting men of the] sons of Benjamin ran among them, the Israelites of the cities came out and destroyed them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They retreated before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and those who came out of the cities slaughtered those between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They retreated before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and those who came out of the cities slaughtered those between them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and they that came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst thereof.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The men of Benjamin headed down the road toward the desert, trying to escape from the Israelites. But the Israelites stayed right behind them, keeping up their attack. Men even came out of the nearby towns to help kill the men of Benjamin, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and they which came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst thereof.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They turned in front of Israel toward the road to the desert. But the battle caught up with the men of Benjamin. Israel slaughtered whoever came out of the cities on the road to the desert.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />They retreated from the Israelites and ran toward the open country, but they could not escape. They were caught between the main army and the men who were now coming out of the city, and they were destroyed. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So they turned tail and ran away from the army of Israel toward the wilderness, but they were overtaken in battle when soldiers came out from the cities to destroy them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They retreated before the Israelites, taking the road to the wilderness. But the battle overtook them as men from the surrounding cities struck them down.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in its midst.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them who came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness, but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the middle of it. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and they turn before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness, and the battle has followed them; and those who [are] from the cities are destroying them in their midst;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and they turn before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness, and the battle hath followed them; and those who are from the city are destroying them in their midst;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And they turned before the men of Israel to the way of the desert; and the battle overtook them; and those from the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And began to go towards the way of the desert, the enemy pursuing them thither also. And they that fired the city came also out to meet them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />and they began to go toward the way of the desert, with the adversary pursuing them to that place also. Moreover, those who had set fire to the city also met them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />They retreated before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness, but the fighting kept pace with them, and those who had been in the city were spreading destruction in between.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Therefore they turned away from the Israelites in the direction of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them, and those who came out of the city were slaughtering them in between.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Therefore they fled before the men of Israel on their way to the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and those who came out of the city first were trapped in the midst of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And they fled from before the sons of Israel to the way of the wilderness, and the battle overtook them, and those at the front placed them in the midst<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and they that came out of the city destroyed them in the midst of the men of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And they turned to the way of the wilderness from before the children of Israel, and fled: but the battle overtook them, and they from the cities destroyed them in the midst of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/20-42.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=6342" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm">Civil War Against Benjamin</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">41</span>Then the men of Israel turned back on them, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they realized that disaster had come upon them. <span class="reftext">42</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6437.htm" title="6437: way·yip̄·nū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To turn. A primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. Appear, look, etc.">So they fled</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lip̄·nê (Prep-l:: N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">before</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-msc) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">the men</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">toward</a> <a href="/hebrew/1870.htm" title="1870: de·reḵ (N-csc) -- Way, road, distance, journey, manner. From darak; a road; figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4057.htm" title="4057: ham·miḏ·bār (Art:: N-ms) -- A pasture, a desert, speech. From dabar in the sense of driving; a pasture; by implication, a desert; also speech.">the wilderness,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4421.htm" title="4421: wə·ham·mil·ḥā·māh (Conj-w, Art:: N-fs) -- A battle, war. From lacham; a battle; generally, war.">but the battle</a> <a href="/hebrew/1692.htm" title="1692: hiḏ·bî·qā·ṯə·hū (V-Hifil-Perf-3fs:: 3ms) -- To cling, cleave, keep close. A primitive root; properly, to impinge, i.e. Cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit.">overtook them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: wa·’ă·šer (Conj-w:: Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">and the men</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: mê·he·‘ā·rîm (Prep-m, Art:: N-fp) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">coming out of the cities</a> <a href="/hebrew/7843.htm" title="7843: maš·ḥî·ṯîm (V-Hifil-Prtcpl-mp) -- Perhaps to go to ruin. A primitive root; to decay, i.e. ruin.">struck them down</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·w·ṯōw (DirObjM:: 3ms) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8432.htm" title="8432: bə·ṯō·w·ḵōw (Prep-b:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- Midst. From an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. the centre.">there.</a> </span><span class="reftext">43</span>They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/8-15.htm">Joshua 8:15-20</a></span><br />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. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/22-19.htm">2 Samuel 22:19</a></span><br />They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD was my support.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/18-18.htm">Psalm 18:18</a></span><br />They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD was my support.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/46-5.htm">Jeremiah 46:5</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/13-14.htm">Isaiah 13:14</a></span><br />Like a hunted gazelle, like a sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/1-3.htm">Lamentations 1:3</a></span><br />Judah has gone into exile under affliction and harsh slavery; she dwells among the nations but finds no place to rest. All her pursuers have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-25.htm">Deuteronomy 28:25</a></span><br />The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/26-17.htm">Leviticus 26:17</a></span><br />And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10</a></span><br />So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great—thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/25-4.htm">2 Kings 25:4-5</a></span><br />Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah, / but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-16.htm">Isaiah 30:16</a></span><br />“No,” you say, “we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee! “We will ride swift horses,” but your pursuers will be faster.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-16.htm">Matthew 24:16-18</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/21-21.htm">Luke 21:21</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/13-14.htm">Mark 13:14-16</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/6-15.htm">Revelation 6:15-17</a></span><br />Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. / And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. / For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the middle of them.</p><p class="hdg">the battle</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/lamentations/1-3.htm">Lamentations 1:3</a></b></br> Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/9-9.htm">Hosea 9:9</a></b></br> They have deeply corrupted <i>themselves</i>, as in the days of Gibeah: <i>therefore</i> he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/10-9.htm">Hosea 10:9</a></b></br> O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/9-5.htm">Backs</a> <a href="/judges/20-39.htm">Battle</a> <a href="/judges/20-15.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/judges/20-40.htm">City</a> <a href="/judges/20-25.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/judges/11-22.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/judges/20-35.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/joshua/11-12.htm">Destroying</a> <a href="/joshua/18-17.htm">Direction</a> <a href="/joshua/8-22.htm">Escape</a> <a href="/judges/20-34.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/acts/27-40.htm">Heading</a> <a href="/judges/20-41.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/20-35.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/judges/18-20.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/judges/18-22.htm">Overtook</a> <a href="/judges/20-36.htm">Putting</a> <a href="/judges/20-37.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/judges/17-4.htm">Thereof</a> <a href="/judges/20-15.htm">Towns</a> <a href="/judges/20-41.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/judges/20-41.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/judges/20-40.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/judges/16-24.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/judges/20-36.htm">Way</a> <a href="/judges/11-22.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_samuel/22-41.htm">Backs</a> <a href="/judges/21-22.htm">Battle</a> <a href="/judges/20-48.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/judges/20-48.htm">City</a> <a href="/judges/20-45.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/judges/20-45.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/judges/21-16.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm">Destroying</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-11.htm">Direction</a> <a href="/1_samuel/19-18.htm">Escape</a> <a href="/judges/20-45.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/luke/9-53.htm">Heading</a> <a href="/judges/20-48.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/21-5.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/1_samuel/9-18.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/judges/20-43.htm">Overtook</a> <a href="/1_samuel/13-21.htm">Putting</a> <a href="/judges/20-46.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/ruth/2-14.htm">Thereof</a> <a href="/judges/21-23.htm">Towns</a> <a href="/judges/20-47.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/judges/20-45.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/judges/20-47.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/judges/20-47.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/ruth/1-7.htm">Way</a> <a href="/judges/20-45.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-1.htm">The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-8.htm">The decree of the assembly</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-12.htm">The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-18.htm">The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-26.htm">They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness</b><br>This phrase describes the retreat of the Benjamites, who were overwhelmed by the forces of the other Israelite tribes. The wilderness often symbolizes a place of desolation and testing in the Bible, as seen in the Israelites' 40 years of wandering (<a href="/exodus/16.htm">Exodus 16:1-3</a>). The Benjamites' flight toward the wilderness signifies their desperation and the dire situation they faced. This retreat can be compared to other biblical instances where enemies of Israel fled, such as the Canaanites in <a href="/joshua/10-16.htm">Joshua 10:16</a>. The wilderness here may refer to the rugged terrain east of Gibeah, which provided limited refuge.<p><b>but the battle overtook them</b><br>The phrase indicates that the Benjamites could not escape the pursuing Israelite forces. This reflects the completeness of God's judgment against Benjamin for their sin, as the battle was divinely ordained (<a href="/judges/20-18.htm">Judges 20:18, 28</a>). The inevitability of the battle overtaking them can be seen as a parallel to the inescapable nature of divine justice, reminiscent of the fate of the Egyptians at the Red Sea (<a href="/exodus/14-23.htm">Exodus 14:23-28</a>). The relentless pursuit by the Israelites underscores the seriousness of the conflict and the determination to eradicate the sin from among them.<p><b>and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there</b><br>This part of the verse highlights the strategic ambush set by the Israelites. The men coming out of the cities were likely part of a tactical maneuver, similar to the ambush at Ai in <a href="/joshua/8-3.htm">Joshua 8:3-8</a>. This strategy reflects the wisdom and planning involved in the battle, as well as the unity of the Israelite tribes in executing God's judgment. The cities mentioned could be those near Gibeah, where the Benjamites had initially sought refuge. The striking down of the Benjamites signifies the fulfillment of divine retribution and the restoration of justice, echoing the theme of God's sovereignty in battle as seen throughout the Old Testament.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/men_of_israel.htm">Men of Israel</a></b><br>The collective tribes of Israel, excluding Benjamin, who were engaged in a civil war against the tribe of Benjamin due to the grievous sin committed in Gibeah.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/w/wilderness.htm">Wilderness</a></b><br>The area to which the Benjamites retreated, symbolizing a place of desolation and defeat.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/b/battle.htm">Battle</a></b><br>The conflict between the Israelites and the Benjamites, which was a result of the moral and social decay within the tribe of Benjamin.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/cities.htm">Cities</a></b><br>Refers to the cities of Israel from which men came out to join the battle against Benjamin, indicating a united front against sin.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/b/benjamites.htm">Benjamites</a></b><br>The tribe of Benjamin, who were being punished for their refusal to hand over the perpetrators of a heinous crime in Gibeah.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>Sin, when left unaddressed, leads to destruction and defeat. The Benjamites' refusal to deal with sin within their tribe led to their downfall.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/unity_in_righteousness.htm">Unity in Righteousness</a></b><br>The tribes of Israel united against the sin in Benjamin, demonstrating the importance of collective action in addressing wrongdoing within a community.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_wilderness_experience.htm">The Wilderness Experience</a></b><br>The wilderness represents a place of judgment and reflection. In our lives, times of desolation can be opportunities for repentance and renewal.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_justice.htm">God's Justice</a></b><br>The passage highlights God's justice in dealing with sin. It serves as a reminder that God does not overlook sin, and there are consequences for unrepentant behavior.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>While the passage focuses on judgment, it also opens the door for discussions on the importance of repentance and the possibility of restoration.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/judges_20__is_there_archeological_proof.htm">Judges 20 (entire chapter) - Is there any archeological evidence supporting so great a civil war among the tribes of Israel, or are the events purely literary?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_god_allow_israel's_defeats_first.htm">Judges 20:18-23 - Why would God direct Israel to attack Benjamin, allow defeat twice, and then finally grant them victory on the third attempt?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_stars_'fight'_scientifically.htm">Judges 5:20: How can we reconcile the statement that 'the stars fought' with scientific understanding of celestial bodies?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_evidence_for_cycles_in_ezekiel_20.htm">Historically and archaeologically, is there evidence to support the repeated cycles of rebellion and divine judgment described throughout Ezekiel 20?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(42) <span class= "bld">Unto the way of the wilderness.</span>--The wilderness is that known as "the wilderness of Bethaven" ( <a href="/joshua/18-12.htm" title="And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.">Joshua 18:12</a>). It is described in Joshua 16 as "the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout Mount Bethel." (See Robinson, <span class= "ital">Bibl. Res. </span>1:572.) The first thought of fugitives in Eastern Palestine was to get to one of the fords of the Jordan (<a href="/2_samuel/15-23.htm" title="And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.">2Samuel 15:23</a>; <a href="/context/2_kings/25-4.htm" title="And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.">2Kings 25:4-5</a>).<p><span class= "bld">Them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.</span>--This obscure clause is rendered differently in different versions. If the English Version be correct, as it probably is, the meaning must be that the Benjamites fled to their own cities, and were pursued thither and slain by the Israelites.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 42.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Therefore they turned their backs</span>, etc. The narrative now at length advances one step. The result of the Benjamites finding themselves between the ambushment and the army of Israel was that they took to flight in an easterly direction (ver. 43) toward the wilderness, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the wilderness described in <a href="/joshua/16-1.htm">Joshua 16:1</a> as "the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout Mount Bethel," where the direction of the wilderness relative to Ephraim is also described as being "on the east." In like manner Zedekiah fled towards the plain (<span class="accented">arabah</span>) or plains of Jericho - a term nearly synonymous with <span class="accented">wilderness</span> (<a href="/2_kings/25-4.htm">2 Kings 25:4, 5</a>). <span class="cmt_word">Them which came out of the cities</span>, etc. This is a very obscure passage, and is very variously explained. <span class="accented">Those which came out</span> of <span class="accented">the</span> <span class="accented">cities</span> must be the same as are so described in ver. 15, and designates the Benjamites who were not inhabitants of Gibeah. The simplest way, therefore, to understand the passage is to render it without reference to the accents: "And the battle overtook him and those that were from the cities (<span class="accented">i.e.</span> the men of Gibeah and the rest of the Benjamites), destroying him (the whole Benjamite army) in the midst of him," <span class="accented">i.e.</span> going right into the midst of them, and destroying right and left. Some, however, render it <span class="accented">in the midst of it</span>, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> of the wilderness. The plural participle <span class="accented">destroying</span> agrees with the singular noun of multitude, <span class="accented">the battle</span> or <span class="accented">war</span>, meaning <span class="accented">all the men of war.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/20-42.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">So they fled</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּפְנ֞וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yip̄·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6437.htm">Strong's 6437: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn, to face, appear, look</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before</span><br /><span class="heb">לִפְנֵ֨י</span> <span class="translit">(lip̄·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the men</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֤ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Israel</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵל֙</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">toward</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the wilderness,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר</span> <span class="translit">(ham·miḏ·bār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4057.htm">Strong's 4057: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pasture, a desert, speech</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but the battle</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ham·mil·ḥā·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4421.htm">Strong's 4421: </a> </span><span class="str2">A battle, war</span><br /><br /><span class="word">overtook them,</span><br /><span class="heb">הִדְבִּיקָ֑תְהוּ</span> <span class="translit">(hiḏ·bî·qā·ṯə·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1692.htm">Strong's 1692: </a> </span><span class="str2">To impinge, cling, adhere, to catch by pursuit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and the men</span><br /><span class="heb">וַאֲשֶׁר֙</span> <span class="translit">(wa·’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">coming out of the cities</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵהֶ֣עָרִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(mê·he·‘ā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m, Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">struck them down</span><br /><span class="heb">מַשְׁחִיתִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(maš·ḥî·ṯîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7843.htm">Strong's 7843: </a> </span><span class="str2">Perhaps to go to ruin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">there.</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּתוֹכֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ṯō·w·ḵōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8432.htm">Strong's 8432: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bisection, the centre</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/20-42.htm">Judges 20:42 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/20-42.htm">Judges 20:42 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/20-42.htm">Judges 20:42 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/20-42.htm">Judges 20:42 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/20-42.htm">Judges 20:42 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/20-42.htm">Judges 20:42 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/20-42.htm">Judges 20:42 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/20-42.htm">Judges 20:42 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/20-42.htm">Judges 20:42 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/20-42.htm">Judges 20:42 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/20-42.htm">OT History: Judges 20:42 Therefore they turned their backs before (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/20-41.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 20:41"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 20:41" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/20-43.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 20:43"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 20:43" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>