Judges 20:35 (KJV)

What does Judges 20:35 mean?

Judges 20:35 describes how the LORD enabled the Israelites to defeat the tribe of Benjamin in battle, resulting in the Israelites killing 25,100 Benjamite warriors who fought with swords. This verse highlights a decisive moment where the conflict between Israel and Benjamin reached a deadly and significant turning point.

The setting is a civil war within ancient Israel, where the other tribes have gathered against Benjamin because of a grievous crime committed in Gibeah, a Benjamite city. The verse makes it clear that the victory is attributed to the LORD's intervention ("the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel"), not just military strength. The number given—25,100 men—shows the scale of the loss for Benjamin and the seriousness of the conflict among the tribes.

The Hebrew behind Judges 20:35

• "the LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This word emphasizes that the outcome of the battle is seen as the direct action of God, not just human effort.
• "smote" (נָכָה, nakah): This verb means to strike or defeat, underscoring that the victory was a decisive blow rather than a minor skirmish.
• "destroyed" (שָׁחַת, shachath): This word often means to ruin or devastate, highlighting the completeness of the defeat suffered by Benjamin.
• "drew the sword" (שָׁלַף חֶרֶב, shalaph cherev): This phrase identifies the Benjamites as active warriors, not noncombatants, making the scale of the loss even more striking.

Why Judges 20:35 matters

• This verse clarifies that the victory was not just a result of military tactics but was attributed to divine intervention, shaping how the Israelites understood their history.
• The large number of casualties among the Benjamites shows the seriousness of the civil conflict and sets up the aftermath, where the tribe of Benjamin is nearly wiped out.
• Understanding this verse helps explain the dramatic tension in the rest of Judges 20–21, where the other tribes later struggle with the consequences of almost destroying one of their own.