The Benjaminites not only rejected the request of the other Israelites, but they actually prepared to attack Israel. There was solidarity among all the Benjaminites as they came from throughout their tribal territory to Gibeah in support of the people of that town.

And the Benjaminites came together out of the cities to Gibe-ah: All the Benjaminites rallied to defend the inhabitants of Gibeah. And renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, but it is clear that the Benjaminites were defiant, so this conjunction is better rendered “On the contrary,” “Not only that,” or simply “But.” New Living Translation uses “Instead.” Once again the Benjaminites is literally “the sons [or, children] of Benjamin.” There is more irony as the Hebrew verb for came together is the same one used to describe the Israelites coming together in response to the Levite’s call (see verse 20.11). Out of the cities is literally “from the cities,” referring to the other towns in the Benjaminite territory.

To go out to battle against the people of Israel: The irony continues as the verb go out renders the same Hebrew verb (yatsaʾ) used by the men of Gibeah when they demanded that the old Ephraimite “Bring out” the Levite, so they could have sex with him (verse 19.22). To battle against the people of Israel is literally “for the battle with the sons [or, children] of Israel.” Since the Benjaminites were Israelites, the Hebrew preposition for “with” could at first be understood to mean that the Benjaminites and the other tribes would be fighting together against a common enemy, but it is clear from the context that the Benjaminites would be fighting against the rest of the tribes.

Translation models for this verse are:

• On the contrary, the Benjaminites from the other towns rallied to Gibeah to go to battle against the Israelites.

• Not only that, the sons of Benjamin from the other towns came together at Gibeah to fight against the sons of Israel.

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 .

And the men of Israel turned back against the Benjaminites is literally “And the men of Israel returned to the sons [or, children] of Benjamin.” The Israelites gave up the idea of chasing down and killing the remaining 600 Benjaminite soldiers hiding at Rimmon Rock, so they turned around and attacked other Benjaminites. Certainly, the 600 Benjaminites would be hard to capture, since they were hiding in rock formations, with empty, deserted land all around. Here the narrator comes back to the main story line. The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And might be translated “Then,” “Meanwhile” (New Revised Standard Version), or “In the meantime.” Turned back renders the key Hebrew verb shuv. Despite this verb’s many meanings, here it means “return” or “go back” (see verse 2.19). The Benjaminites refers to those who did not make it to Rimmon Rock. Good News Translation calls them “the rest of the Benjaminites.” We might say “Then the Israelites went back to attack the rest of the Benjaminites.”

And smote them with the edge of the sword is a typical description of killing people during battle (see verse 1.8), using the same Hebrew verb meaning “strike down” in verse 20.45.

Men and beasts and all that they found: This phrase expresses the widespread destruction that the Israelites carried out. The Hebrew is somewhat difficult here, seeming to say literally “from [the] whole city to [the] animal[s] up to all those who were found.” This is certainly an idiomatic expression meaning “every person and every animal they found.” Revised English Bible says “the people in the towns and the cattle, every creature that they found.” Contemporary English Version is similar with “all the people and the animals.” We might say “They slaughtered all the people and animals in sight.”

And all the towns which they found they set on fire: Burning down captured towns was standard practice in those days (see verse 1.8). This could be a sign of vengeance, but it may also have been carried out to prevent the people from reconstructing and seeking revenge themselves. All the towns which they found refers to all the Benjaminite towns the Israelite soldiers came across. The verb found occurs twice in quick succession. The Israelite soldiers are described as scattering out and killing every living thing they see and destroying any Benjaminite town they find. Set on fire (literally “send forth with [the] fire”) uses the key Hebrew verb shalach, which is often found in passages dealing with the defeat of an enemy (see comments on verse 3.15). This sentence may be rendered “and every remaining town was set on fire” or “and every town they came across they set ablaze.”

There is a chiastic structure here which marks the end of this section.

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 .