Bible Strands
Judges 20:31
The Benjamites came out against them and were drawn away from the city. They began to attack the people as before, killing about thirty men of Israel in the fields and on the roads, one of which led up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Benjamites leave their fortified position at Gibeah to confront the Israelite forces on the third day of their assault.
The words — The text highlights הָנְתְּק֖וּ (ha.ne.te.Ku), meaning "they were drawn away," describing the Benjamites' movement from the city into the open fields.
The thread — This tactical withdrawal parallels the king of Ai's premature sortie in Joshua 8:14 and contrasts with the earlier routing of Israelites in Joshua 7:5.
Why it lands — It requires the reader to recognize how a seemingly successful defense actually executes a prearranged military trap.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
Cross-references
- Joshua 8:14 When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, he hurried out early in the morning with the men of the city to engage them in battle at an appointed place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set up against him behind the city.
- Joshua 7:5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
- Judges 19:13 He continued, “Come, let us try to reach one of these towns to spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.”
- Isaiah 10:29 They have crossed at the ford: “We will spend the night at Geba.” Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul flees.