Judges 20:48 (KJV)

What does Judges 20:48 mean?

Judges 20:48 describes how the men of Israel attacked the tribe of Benjamin after a civil war, killing people and animals in every city they found and burning those cities to the ground. This verse shows the total destruction carried out by the Israelites against Benjamin as a result of the conflict.

The setting is the aftermath of a brutal battle between the rest of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, following a grievous crime in Gibeah. The verse sums up the thoroughness of Israel’s actions: not only were the fighting men of Benjamin defeated, but the destruction extended to civilians, animals, and property. This level of devastation highlights the seriousness of the conflict and the deep divisions within Israel at that time.

The Hebrew behind Judges 20:48

• The word for "smote" (נָכָה, nakah) means to strike or kill, emphasizing the violent and decisive nature of Israel’s actions against Benjamin.
• "Edge" (פֶּה, peh) literally means "mouth," but here it refers to the "edge of the sword," a Hebrew expression for killing by the sword.
• The word for "set on fire" (שָׁלַח, shalach) means to send or let loose, and in this context, it describes the deliberate act of burning down the cities.
• "Beast" (בְּהֵמָה, behemah) refers to livestock or animals, showing that the destruction included not just people but also the animals, indicating a complete devastation.

Why Judges 20:48 matters

• This verse clarifies the extent of the violence and destruction in the civil war, showing that the conflict was not limited to soldiers but affected entire communities and their livelihoods.
• It connects to the wider passage by marking the conclusion of the war against Benjamin, setting up the need for later chapters to address the consequences and aftermath of such devastation.
• The verse helps explain the desperate situation for the tribe of Benjamin in the following chapters, as so few survivors and resources remained.