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Judges 20:41

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 20:41 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil was come upon them.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil was come upon them.
Judges 20:41 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
38Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers-in-wait was, that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.
39And the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.
40But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and, behold, the whole of the city went up [in smoke] to heaven.
41And the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil was come upon them.
42Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and they that came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst thereof.
43They inclosed the Benjamites round about, [and] chased them, [and] trod them down at [their] resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.
44And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valor.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And when the men of Israel turned again, etc.] 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…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“were amazed: Exo 15:9, Exo 15:10; Isa 13:8, Isa 13:9, Isa 33:14; Luk 17:27, Luk 17:28, Luk 21:26; Th1 5:3; Pe2 2:12; Rev 6:15-17, Rev 18:8-10 was come upon them: Heb. touched them Judges 20:42”
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Sources and verification