Judges 20:32
30 On the third day the Israelites went up against the Benjamites and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as they had done before.
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.
“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.
34 Then 10,000 select men from all Israel made a frontal assault against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce. But the Benjamites did not realize that disaster was upon them.
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
- “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.”
- KJV
- And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.
- WEB
- The children of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.” But the children of Israel said, “Let’s flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.”
- ASV
- And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them away from the city unto the highways.
- DARBY
- And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. And the children of Israel said, Let us flee, that we may draw them from the city to the highways.
- BLB
- And the sons of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us as at first.” And the sons of Israel said, “Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways.”
- ÅB
- Og Benjamins barn sa: De ligger under for oss, nå som før. Men Israels barn sa: La oss flykte og dra dem bort fra byen, ut på alfarveiene!
- OTB
- Benjaminittene tenkte: "Vi beseirer dem som før," men israelittene sa: "La oss trekke oss tilbake og trekke dem bort fra byen til veiene."
- B1930
- Og Benjamins barn sa: De ligger under for oss, nu som før. Men Israels barn sa: La oss flykte og dra dem bort fra byen, ut på alfarveiene!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Joshua 8:15–16
Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness.
Read in context