Judges 20:35
And the LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who drew the sword.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The devastating number of 25,100 slain men isn't just a statistic; it accounts for nearly the entire tribe of Benjamin, emphasizing the severity of their sin and the completeness of God's judgment. The phrase "all these were men who drew the sword" highlights that this wasn't collateral damage, but the active destruction of every single warrior in the tribe.
After the Israelites devised a clever stratagem involving an ambush, they engaged the tribe of Benjamin in a fierce battle outside Gibeah. This verse summarizes the devastating outcome of that engagement, declaring that the Lord gave Israel victory and that nearly the entire tribe of Benjamin, all armed men, was wiped out. The following verses will detail how this happened, leading to the near annihilation of Benjamin and leaving only six hundred men to escape.
How did Israel win against the tribe of Benjamin, who had previously defeated them twice?
This verse doesn't just say Israel won; it explicitly states, 'And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel.' This isn't just a human victory; it's divine intervention. Throughout the book of Judges, we see cycles of disobedience, oppression, and crying out to God, followed by a 'judge' raised up by the Spirit to deliver. Here, even though Israel was enacting judgment, the victory itself is credited to God. He directly caused the defeat of Benjamin. This reminds us that in all conflicts, whether physical, spiritual, or personal, ultimate victory belongs to the Lord.
The numbers are staggering. What does this immense loss reveal about the gravity of sin?
The text reports that 'the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day.' This isn't just a statistic; it's a profound consequence. The previous chapters in Judges detail how the tribe of Benjamin harbored and defended men who committed horrific crimes, leading to a civil war initiated by the other tribes of Israel. This total destruction of Benjamin, save for a remnant, shows the severe and far-reaching consequences of unrepentant sin, both for individuals and for entire communities. It highlights God's justice against grievous wrongdoing.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The supreme, covenant-keeping God of Israel, YHWH. The use of this name emphasizes His sovereignty, intervention in human affairs, and faithfulness to His people.
nagaph · Hebrew Verb
To strike, beat, or defeat an enemy. In a biblical context, it often refers to God’s sovereign action in granting victory to His people or executing judgment.
chereb · Hebrew Noun
A bladed weapon used for warfare and judgment. It serves as a symbol of military power, justice, and the authority to take life in battle.
This verse marks the devastating climax of a brutal civil war. The overwhelming victory, despite Israel's earlier defeats, emphasizes God's ultimate sovereignty and His judgment on grievous sin, even within His own people.
c. 1070 BC
The Levite's Concubine Incident
A Levite's concubine is brutally assaulted and dies, leading to a civil war between the other tribes of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin.
c. 1070 BC
Israel Gathers Against Benjamin
The tribes of Israel gather at Mizpah to decide on a course of action against the tribe of Benjamin for their heinous crime.
c. 1070 BC
Initial Battles Against Benjamin
The tribes of Israel suffer heavy losses in initial battles against the Benjamites, highlighting Benjamin's fierce resistance.
c. 1070 BC— this verse
Israel's Renewed Assault and Stratagem
After regrouping and praying, Israel employs an ambush strategy near Gibeah to defeat the Benjamites.
c. 1070 BC
This passage echoes the language of divine judgment and complete destruction, mirroring how the Lord enabled Israel to utterly defeat the sinful tribe of Benjamin.
Deuteronomy 7:1-2The divine command to utterly destroy the Canaanites, driven by their wicked practices, parallels the severity of the judgment against Benjamin for their extreme wickedness and refusal to repent.
Joshua 8:25This passage describes a similar total annihilation, where the Israelites, acting under God's command, destroyed the city of Ai and killed all its inhabitants, reflecting the comprehensive victory over Benjamin.
1 Kings 20:28The prophet's declaration that the Syrians would know the Lord is God 'from the way they are smitten' highlights how divine victories, like the one over Benjamin, serve to demonstrate God's power and authority.
clarkeJudges 20:35: "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."
Twenty and five thousand and a hundred - As the Benjamites consisted only of twenty-six thousand and seven hundred slingers; or, as the Vulgate, Septuagint, and others read, twenty-five thousand, which is most probably the true reading; then the whole of the Benjamites were cut to pieces, except six hund…
ellicottJudges 20:35: "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."
(35) Destroyed of the Benjamites . . . —Here again we have a summary of the final result, followed by details, in a manner which proves either that the narrative was compiled from various sources (one of which seems to have been a poem), or that it was penned before the “periodic style” of history ( lexi…
The devastating number of 25,100 slain men isn't just a statistic; it accounts for nearly the entire tribe of Benjamin, emphasizing the severity of their sin and the completeness of God's judgment. The phrase "all these were men who drew the sword" highlights that this wasn't collateral damage, but the active destruction of every single warrior in the tribe.
After the Israelites devised a clever stratagem involving an ambush, they engaged the tribe of Benjamin in a fierce battle outside Gibeah. This verse summarizes the devastating outcome of that engagement, declaring that the Lord gave Israel victory and that nearly the entire tribe of Benjamin, all armed men, was wiped out. The following verses will detail how this happened, leading to the near annihilation of Benjamin and leaving only six hundred men to escape.
After the Israelites devised a clever stratagem involving an ambush, they engaged the tribe of Benjamin in a fierce battle outside Gibeah. This verse summarizes the devastating outcome of that engagement, declaring that the Lord gave Israel victory and that nearly the entire tribe of Benjamin, all armed men, was wiped out. The following verses will detail how this happened, leading to the near annihilation of Benjamin and leaving only six hundred men to escape.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Judges 20:35 is available in the Sola app.
Destruction of Benjamin
The tribe of Benjamin is nearly annihilated, with all but 600 men being killed in the final devastating battle.
c. 1070 BC
Survival of Benjamin's Remnant
The remaining 600 Benjamites flee to the rock of Rimmon and survive, allowing the tribe to eventually be restored.
"And the LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who drew the sword." — The devastating number of 25,100 slain men isn't just a statistic; it accounts for nearly the entire tribe of Benjamin, emphasizing the severity of their sin and the completeness of God's judgment.…
