Then the men of Israel turned: The main part of the Israelite army, who had been drawing out the Benjaminites, stopped suddenly and turned to attack the Benjaminites. For the Hebrew verb rendered turned, see verse 20.39.

And the men of Benjamin were dismayed: This is the first time that the Benjaminite army is called the men of Benjamin. The Hebrew verb rendered dismayed occurs only here in Judges. Its root refers to the fear and loss of courage when faced by a terrifying or deadly situation (see, for example, verse 1 Sam 28.21). Dismayed seems a rather weak rendering in such a context. We might say “terrified” (New International Version) or “thrown into panic” (Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

For they saw that disaster was close upon them: This clause explains why the Benjaminites were terrified. They saw that their town was burning, and they realized that they could not retreat back into it and gain protection. For renders the Hebrew particle ki. Another possible connector is “because” (Good News Translation, New International Version). The verb saw may be rendered “realized” (Good News Translation, New International Version). For disaster was close upon them, see verse 20.34. This is a high point in the narrative, since the Hebrew word rendered disaster (raʿah) reappears. Its root can also mean “evil.” In the judges’ stories the people did “evil” in the LORD’s eyes (see verse 2.11). Here “evil” is close upon them. This clause and the previous one may be reversed by saying “The men of Benjamin saw that disaster was upon them and were terrified.”

Translation models for this verse are:

• Then the main Israelite army turned to fight, and the Benjaminite soldiers were thrown into a panic. They realized that they faced immediate defeat.

• Then the Israelite soldiers turned back to attack the Benjaminites. Terrified, the Benjaminites knew that disaster was upon them.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .