So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.
JUDGES 20:36KJVWhat does Judges 20:36 mean?
Judges 20:36 describes how the tribe of Benjamin realized they were being defeated in battle because the men of Israel had drawn them away from the city, relying on an ambush they had set near Gibeah. The verse highlights that Israel’s strategy depended on trusting the hidden soldiers lying in wait to turn the tide of the fight.
This verse comes during a civil war between the rest of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, following a series of violent events in Gibeah. The men of Israel are not speaking directly here; the verse is a narrative explanation of the battle’s turning point. The Israelites pretended to retreat, luring the Benjamites out, while their hidden forces prepared to attack the city from another direction.
The Hebrew behind Judges 20:36
- "Children" (בְּנֵי, bənê): This word refers to the descendants or people of Benjamin, emphasizing their identity as a tribe within Israel.
- "Smitten" (נָגַף, nāgaph): This word means struck down or defeated, making it clear that Benjamin recognized their loss was decisive.
- "Trusted" (בָּטַח, bāṭaḥ): This word means to rely on or have confidence in. The men of Israel’s confidence in their ambush was central to their strategy.
- "Wait" (אֹרֵב, ōrēv): This word refers to those lying in ambush, highlighting the planned and hidden nature of Israel’s tactics.
Why Judges 20:36 matters
- This verse clarifies that Israel’s victory was not just by force but by careful planning and trust in their strategy, especially the ambush.
- It marks the moment the Benjamites realized their defeat, which is a turning point in the battle and the narrative.
- The verse connects to the larger story by showing how the conflict escalated and how both sides used tactics beyond open combat, giving insight into the seriousness and complexity of the civil war.