Judges 20:41

41 Then the Israelites counterattacked, and the Benjamites were terrified, because they realized that disaster had come on them.

Judges 20:41 in Other Translations

41 And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.

41 Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that disaster was close upon them.

41 the men of Israel turned and attacked. At this point the men of Benjamin became terrified, because they realized disaster was close at hand.

41 By the time the men of Israel had turned back on them, the men of Benjamin fell apart - they could see that they were trapped.

41 Then the men of Israel returned, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they realized that disaster had struck them.

Judges 20:41 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 20:41

And when the men of Israel turned again
Turned their faces to the Benjaminites, on whom they had turned their backs; and which they did on hearing the sound of the trumpet, or seeing the flame of the city, or both, and that in order to fight the Benjaminites, and smite them, as now was their opportunity:

the men of Benjamin were amazed;
at this strange and sudden change of things, at the sight of the flame of their city behind them, and at the Israelites turning back to fight them, when they thought themselves sure of victory, as at other times:

for they saw that evil was come upon them;
that they were in the utmost danger, between two fires, as we usually say, liers in wait behind them, which had seized their city and burnt it, and the army of Israel turning upon them with great spirit and resolution.

Judges 20:41 In-Context

39 and then the Israelites would counterattack. The Benjamites had begun to inflict casualties on the Israelites (about thirty), and they said, “We are defeating them as in the first battle.”

40 But when the column of smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites turned and saw the whole city going up in smoke.

41 Then the Israelites counterattacked, and the Benjamites were terrified, because they realized that disaster had come on them.

42 So they fled before the Israelites in the direction of the wilderness, but they could not escape the battle. And the Israelites who came out of the towns cut them down there.

43 They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and easily overran them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east.

Cross References

• 1. Joshua 8:21
• 2. ver 34