But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.
JUDGES 20:40KJVWhat does Judges 20:40 mean?
Judges 20:40 describes the moment when smoke and flames began rising from the city, signaling to the Benjamites that their city was burning. The Benjamites, seeing the smoke rising like a pillar up to the sky, realized their city was being destroyed.
This verse takes place during a battle between the tribe of Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel. The Israelites had set an ambush, and the rising smoke was the agreed-upon signal that the city of Gibeah was being set on fire. When the Benjamites saw the smoke, they understood that their situation had turned desperate, as their home was being overtaken.
The Hebrew behind Judges 20:40
- The word for "flame" (מַשְׂאָה, mas'eh) here can mean a rising column, often of smoke or fire, emphasizing the dramatic and visible nature of the destruction.
- "Pillar" (מַצֵּבָה, matzevah) is used for something standing upright, like a monument or a column, highlighting how the smoke was unmistakably visible from a distance.
- The word for "smoke" (עָשָׁן, ashan) is the common term for smoke, reinforcing the image of destruction and signaling.
- "Up to heaven" uses the word for "heaven" (שָׁמַיִם, shamayim), which often simply means "sky," showing how high and noticeable the smoke was.
Why Judges 20:40 matters
- This verse clarifies the turning point in the battle, showing how the Benjamites realized too late that their city was lost.
- The vivid description of the smoke rising "up to heaven" emphasizes the totality of the destruction and the hopelessness of the Benjamites' situation.
- Understanding this signal helps make sense of the strategy used by the Israelites and the sudden shift in the battle's momentum described in the surrounding verses.