And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

JUDGES 20:25KJV
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Judges 20:25 (KJV)

What does Judges 20:25 mean?

Judges 20:25 describes how the tribe of Benjamin came out from the city of Gibeah on the second day of battle and killed eighteen thousand Israelite men, all of whom were armed for combat. This verse highlights a significant defeat for the rest of Israel in their conflict with Benjamin.

The setting is a civil war among the tribes of Israel, where the other tribes have gathered to punish Benjamin for a crime committed in Gibeah. Despite being outnumbered, Benjamin defeats the Israelites for a second time. The verse emphasizes the scale of the loss and the determination of Benjamin, showing that all the fallen were experienced warriors.

The Hebrew behind Judges 20:25

  • "Destroyed down to the ground" uses the Hebrew שָׁחַת (shachath, "down" or "destroyed"), which often means to ruin or lay waste completely. This stresses the totality of the defeat—these men were not just beaten, but thoroughly wiped out.
  • "All these drew the sword" comes from שָׁלַף (shalaph, "drew") and חֶרֶב (cherev, "sword"), indicating that the casualties were not noncombatants but trained fighters, highlighting the seriousness of the loss for Israel’s army.

Why Judges 20:25 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Benjamin's victory was not a fluke; it was the second day in a row that they inflicted heavy losses, underlining the stubbornness of the conflict and the strength of Benjamin’s fighters.
  • The detail that all the dead were sword-bearers shows the intensity of the battle and that Israel’s defeat was not due to lack of preparation or skill.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain the desperation and sorrow that follows in the narrative, setting up the dramatic turning point in the story of Israel’s civil war.

Where else these words appear

“drew” Hebrew H8025 · used in 24 verses

  • Numbers 22:23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
  • Judges 20:2 And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.
  • 1 Samuel 31:4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

“Gibeah” Hebrew H1390 · used in 43 verses

  • Joshua 15:57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:
  • Judges 20:21 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.
  • 1 Samuel 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

“eighteen” Hebrew H8083 · used in 105 verses

  • Genesis 5:4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
  • 1 Kings 7:15 For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.
  • 2 Chronicles 35:19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.

“against” Hebrew H7125 · used in 117 verses

  • Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.
  • Judges 6:35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
  • 1 Kings 2:8 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.