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Judges 20:43

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 20:43 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “They 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

They 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.
Judges 20:43 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
45And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men, and followed hard after them unto Gidom, and smote of them two thousand men.
46So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; 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
“Thus they enclosed the Benjaminites round about, etc.] Surrounded them on all sides, the army of Israel being posted in different places, and people coming out of all the cities to their assistance. Josephus f432 says, they were forced into, and cooped up, in a hollow place in a valley, so that they could not escape: and chased them; or “caused to pursue” f433; calling after them a pursuit, crying to one another as they went along, saying, pursue them, pursue them; so Jarchi and Kimchi; which cry, as it inspired the pursuers with zeal, so they pursued with terror: and trod them down with ease; they making no resistance, being quite dispirited; the Targrim is, “from the house of their rest,”…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The language and construction of this verse is poetical; it seems to be an extract from a song, and to describe, in the language of poetry, the same event which the preceding verse described in that of prose. With ease - Or “rest” Numbers 10:33; Psalms 95:11. The expression is very obscure. The margin takes it as the name of a place. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“enclosed: Jos 8:20-22 with ease: or, from Menuchah, etc over against: Heb. unto over against Judges 20:45”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification