And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.

JUDGES 20:45KJV
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Judges 20:45 (KJV)

What does Judges 20:45 mean?

Judges 20:45 describes how the surviving men of the tribe of Benjamin, after losing a battle, tried to escape toward the wilderness and a place called the rock of Rimmon, but many were killed along the way by their pursuers. The verse reports that five thousand Benjaminites were killed on the highways, and another two thousand were killed as they were chased further to a place called Gidom.

This verse is part of the account of a civil war in Israel, where the other tribes fought against Benjamin because of a terrible crime committed in Gibeah. The verse is a summary of the heavy losses suffered by Benjamin as they fled, showing how thorough and relentless the pursuit was. The mention of specific places and numbers highlights the scale and seriousness of the conflict.

The Hebrew behind Judges 20:45

  • The word for "wilderness" is מִדְבָּר (midbar), which often refers to an uninhabited, wild area. Here, it emphasizes the desperation of the Benjaminites, fleeing into harsh, unsettled land for safety.
  • "Rock" is סֶלַע (sela‘), and "Rimmon" is רִמּוֹן (Rimmon). The "rock of Rimmon" was likely a well-known landmark or stronghold, showing the Benjaminites sought refuge in a defensible, remote spot.
  • The verb "gleaned" is לָקַט (laqṭ), which usually means to pick up leftovers, like after a harvest. Here, it paints a picture of the pursuers picking off the fleeing Benjaminites along the roads, not in a single battle but as scattered individuals or small groups.

Why Judges 20:45 matters

  • This verse clarifies just how devastating the defeat was for Benjamin, with thousands killed even as they tried to escape, not just in open battle.
  • The details about the locations and the method of pursuit help the reader understand the thoroughness of the other tribes' actions and the desperation of the Benjaminites.
  • The verse connects to the larger story by setting up the next events, where only a small remnant of Benjamin survives, which becomes important for the future of the tribe and the unity of Israel.

Where else these words appear

“Rimmon” Hebrew H7417 · used in 13 verses

  • Joshua 15:32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:
  • Judges 21:13 And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.
  • 2 Kings 5:18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.

“gleaned” Hebrew H5953 · used in 18 verses

  • Exodus 10:2 And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.
  • 1 Samuel 6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
  • Jeremiah 6:9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.

“highways” Hebrew H4546 · used in 26 verses

  • Numbers 20:19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
  • 2 Kings 18:17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.
  • Isaiah 19:23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.

“pursued” Hebrew H1692 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
  • Judges 20:42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.
  • Job 31:7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;