Breakdown of Judges 20:37-40

"Then the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush moved out and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in the main ambush was that when they…" — This isn't just about a brutal military victory; it highlights the terrifying efficiency of the coordinated plan. The phrase "drew themselves along" shows the ambushers moving from a hidden, compact…

Judges 20:37-40 Meaning Explained

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Judges 20:37-40

Then the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush moved out and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in the main ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel. They said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.” But when the signal began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven.

English Standard Version (ESV)

This isn't just about a brutal military victory; it highlights the terrifying efficiency of the coordinated plan. The phrase "drew themselves along" shows the ambushers moving from a hidden, compact position to spreading out, revealing their full force as they systematically engulfed the entire city. It paints a picture of a swift, overwhelming, and total destruction.

What Judges 20:37-40 means

The Israelites, having suffered a brutal defeat the previous day, executed a clever stratagem. They deliberately retreated from Gibeah to lure the Benjamite men out, drawing them away from the city's defenses. This allowed a hidden force of Israelite warriors to sweep in and take control of the undefended city.

Ambush's Deadly Advance

Imagine the scene: a city thought safe, suddenly swarmed by an enemy that had been hidden just moments before. This verse describes that terrifying shift.

The battle plan against Gibeah involved a crucial element: an ambush. This wasn't just a surprise attack; it was a calculated maneuver designed for total devastation.

A Plan Comes to Fruition

The men in ambush didn't hesitate when the signal was given. The text says they 'hasted and rushed upon Gibeah.' This speaks to their immediate and forceful action. They moved from a concealed position to overwhelming the city with speed and aggression.

Total Annihilation

The goal of the ambush was not to skirmish or to take prisoners. The phrase 'smote all the city with the edge of the sword' indicates a complete and brutal destruction. No one was spared. This reflects the severity of the sin committed by Gibeah and the uncompromising judgment that followed.

From Concealment to City-Wide Sweep

How does an army that was hidden suddenly manage to 'strike all the city'? This verse hints at the transition from a hidden force to a sweeping invasion.

The description of the ambushers 'drawing themselves along' suggests a transformation in their posture and movement once they emerged from hiding.

Spreading Out for Maximum Impact

Instead of remaining a concentrated force, the ambushers 'drew themselves along' or 'extended themselves' towards the city. This implies they spread out, covering more ground and engaging the city from multiple points simultaneously. This tactic would have prevented the defenders from concentrating their forces against a single point of entry.

Overwhelming the Defenseless

As they spread throughout Gibeah, the text states they 'smote all the city with the edge of the sword.' This phrase paints a picture of relentless pursuit and thoroughness. The ambushers didn't just breach the defenses; they systematically moved through the city, ensuring no one escaped their deadly advance. It was a swift, efficient, and total conquest of the inner city.

Understand the original words

Original language

edge of the swordלְפִי־חָרֶב

lepi-chereb · Hebrew Idiomatic phrase

Literally 'the mouth of the sword,' this phrase is a standard Hebrew idiom used to describe death by the sword in battle. It implies a thorough, violent, and fatal execution of divine or military judgment.

signalמַשְׂאֵת

mas'eth · Hebrew Noun

A sign or mark used to convey a message or initiate a predetermined action. In a tactical or theological sense, it represents an objective indicator that a specific divine or strategic command has been fulfilled and that the next stage of action must begin.

Historical context

Written: Likely compiled during the early period of the monarchy, perhaps around the 10th century BC, based on events described.
Author: Traditionally understood as the prophet Samuel, though the book contains material from different sources and likely compiled later.
Location: The events took place in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin, specifically around the city of Gibeah. The writing itself likely originated from within Israel.
Genre: Narrative history, characterized by its focus on dramatic events and the consequences of national sin.

Historical background

This verse describes the climax of a brutal civil war, where a devastating ambush, a tactic mirroring earlier conquests, resulted in the utter destruction of the city of Gibeah and the near-annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin.

c. 1350-1070 BC
Period of the Judges
This era in Israelite history was characterized by a cycle of sin, oppression, deliverance, and peace, often led by charismatic figures called "judges."
c. 1100 BC
Tribal Anarchy and Gibeah's Crime
Following the death of Joshua, Israel lacked central leadership, leading to widespread lawlessness. The horrific crime committed in Gibeah by the men of Benjamin ignited a civil war among the tribes.
c. 1100 BC
Inter-Tribal War Erupts
The tribes of Israel declared war on the tribe of Benjamin to bring them to justice for the crime in Gibeah, leading to multiple failed attempts to subdue the rebellious city.
c. 1100 BC— this verse
Israelite Strategy Against Gibeah
After two failed battles, the Israelites changed tactics, employing an ambush strategy similar to the one used to conquer Ai, aiming to trap and destroy Gibeah.

Key themes

01Strategic military action
02Total destruction of enemy
03Suddenness of attack

Cross-references

Joshua 8:19

This passage describes a very similar military tactic where an ambush force rushed into the city of Ai after the main Israelite army had feigned retreat, mirroring the surprise and swiftness of the attack on Gibeah.

Joshua 8:24

Following the successful ambush at Ai, all the inhabitants were struck down with the sword, emphasizing the complete destruction that such a stratagem could bring, much like the fate of Gibeah's residents.

Jeremiah 21:7

This prophecy speaks of a similar fate for Jerusalem, where those who remained would be given into the hand of their enemies, to be struck down by the sword, echoing the comprehensive defeat seen in Judges.

Luke 19:43

Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem, where enemies would surround the city and 'dash you to the ground,' a vivid picture of total annihilation that parallels the violent end of Gibeah.

Scholarly commentary

Judges 20:37: "And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword."

(37) Results of the ambuscade. (Comp. Joshua 8:15 ; Joshua 8:19-20 .) Drew themselves along.—The marginal suggestion, made a long sound with the trumpet, is untenable (See Judges 4:6.) With The edge of the sword.—See Judges 1:8; Joshua 8:24.
ellicott

Judges 20:37: "And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword."

And the liers in wait hasted,.... When the time was come agreed upon for them to rise out of their ambush: and rushed upon Gibeah; at unawares, with great force and violence entered the city, and took possession of it; or "extended" (x), or spread themselves unto it; before they lay close in a narrow compass, but now they put thems…
gill

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