Judges 20:25

Authorized King James Version

And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֵּצֵא֩
went forth
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#2
בִנְיָמִ֨ן׀
And Benjamin
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
#3
לִקְרָאתָ֥ם׀
against
an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)
#4
מִֽן
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
#5
הַגִּבְעָה֮
them out of Gibeah
gibah; the name of three places in palestine
#6
בַּיּ֣וֹם
day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#7
הַשֵּׁנִי֒
the second
properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again
#8
וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ֩
and destroyed down
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
#9
בִבְנֵ֨י
of the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#10
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#11
ע֗וֹד
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
#12
שְׁמֹנַ֨ת
again eighteen
a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal) eighth
#13
עָשָׂ֥ר
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
#14
אֶ֛לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#15
אִ֖ישׁ
men
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#16
אָ֑רְצָה
to the ground
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#17
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#18
אֵ֖לֶּה
these or those
#19
שֹׁ֥לְפֵי
all these drew
to pull out, up or off
#20
חָֽרֶב׃
the sword
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Judges. The concept of divine revelation reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Judges Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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