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Judges 20:31

BenjaminBethel (of Palestine)Gibeah

29 So Israel set up an ambush around Gibeah.

30 On the third day the Israelites went up against the Benjamites and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as they had done before.

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.

32 “We are defeating them as before,” said the Benjamites. But the Israelites said, “Let us retreat and draw them away from the city onto the roads.”

33 So all the men of Israel got up from their places and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar, and the Israelites in ambush charged from their positions west of Gibeah.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
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.
WEB
The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike and kill of the people as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
ASV
And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite and kill of the people, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to Beth-el, and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
DARBY
And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city, and began to smite of the people, slaying as at the former times, in the highways, of which one leads to Bethel and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
BLB
And the sons of Benjamin went out against the people, [and] they were drawn away from the city. And they began to strike down some of the people [and] kill some, as time upon time, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel and one to Gibeah, and in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
ÅB
Da dro Benjamins barn ut imot folket og ble dradd bort fra byen; og slik som de tidligere ganger felte de i førstningen noen av folket på alfarveiene som fører oppover, den ene til Betel og den andre over marken til Gibea; det var omkring tretti mann av Israel de slo ihjel.
OTB
Benjaminittene kom ut for å møte dem og ble trukket bort fra byen. De begynte å påføre israelittene tap som ved tidligere anledninger, omtrent tretti menn falt i det åpne feltet og på veiene—en som førte til Betel og den andre til Gibea.
B1930
Da drog Benjamins barn ut imot folket og blev dradd bort fra byen; og likesom de tidligere ganger felte de i førstningen nogen av folket på alfarveiene som fører opover, den ene til Betel og den andre over marken til Gibea; det var omkring tretti mann av Israel de slo ihjel.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Joshua 8:14–16

    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.

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  • 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.

    Read in context

  • Judges 19:13–14

    He continued, “Come, let us try to reach one of these towns to spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.”

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  • Isaiah 10:29

    They have crossed at the ford: “We will spend the night at Geba.” Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul flees.

    Read in context