Bible Strands
Judges 20:35
The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — During the civil war between the tribes, the text records the moment Yahweh actively turns the battle against Benjamin after the Israelite ambush is sprung. This divine intervention immediately precedes a massive slaughter of 25,100 armed Benjamites by the Israelite forces.
The words — וַ/יִּגֹּ֨ף (va/i.yi.Gof) = "and he defeated" and וַ/יַּשְׁחִיתוּ֩ (va/i.yash.chi.Tu) = "and they destroyed" are consecutive hiphil perfect verbs that mark Yahweh's decisive strike followed by the Israelites' execution of the kill.
The thread — The verse completes the casualty accounting initiated in Judges 20:15 and Judges 20:44, while its theme of sudden reversal aligns with the warning in Job 20:5 about the brief triumph of the arrogant.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that military victory is dictated by divine action rather than human tactics, and it demands a sober accounting of the concrete cost of tribal rebellion.
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 Lord smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.
Cross-references
- Job 20:5 the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
- Judges 20:15 On that day the Benjamites mobilized 26,000 swordsmen from their cities, in addition to the 700 select men of Gibeah.
- Judges 20:44 And 18,000 Benjamites fell, all men of valor.