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 20:45KJVWhat 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.