Judges 20:25
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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיֵּצֵא֩
went forth
H3318
וַיֵּצֵא֩
went forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
1 of 20
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
בִנְיָמִ֨ן׀
And Benjamin
H1144
בִנְיָמִ֨ן׀
And Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
2 of 20
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
לִקְרָאתָ֥ם׀
against
H7125
לִקְרָאתָ֥ם׀
against
Strong's:
H7125
Word #:
3 of 20
an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)
מִֽן
H4480
מִֽן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
4 of 20
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַגִּבְעָה֮
them out of Gibeah
H1390
הַגִּבְעָה֮
them out of Gibeah
Strong's:
H1390
Word #:
5 of 20
gibah; the name of three places in palestine
בַּיּ֣וֹם
day
H3117
בַּיּ֣וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
6 of 20
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
הַשֵּׁנִי֒
the second
H8145
הַשֵּׁנִי֒
the second
Strong's:
H8145
Word #:
7 of 20
properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again
וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ֩
and destroyed down
H7843
וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ֩
and destroyed down
Strong's:
H7843
Word #:
8 of 20
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
בִבְנֵ֨י
of the children
H1121
בִבְנֵ֨י
of the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
9 of 20
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
10 of 20
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
ע֗וֹד
H5750
ע֗וֹד
Strong's:
H5750
Word #:
11 of 20
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
שְׁמֹנַ֨ת
again eighteen
H8083
שְׁמֹנַ֨ת
again eighteen
Strong's:
H8083
Word #:
12 of 20
a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal) eighth
עָשָׂ֥ר
H6240
עָשָׂ֥ר
Strong's:
H6240
Word #:
13 of 20
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
אֶ֛לֶף
thousand
H505
אֶ֛לֶף
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
14 of 20
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
אִ֖ישׁ
men
H376
אִ֖ישׁ
men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
15 of 20
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)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
17 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Historical Context
The combined loss of 40,000 warriors represented 10% of Israel's force—devastating but not army-destroying. Such casualties would typically cause ancient armies to withdraw and negotiate. That Israel persisted shows extraordinary commitment to covenant justice, yet also reveals dangerous pride that wouldn't accept that their approach needed fundamental revision. Benjamin's continued success emboldened their defiance, making eventual reconciliation harder.
Questions for Reflection
- When does God intensify discipline through repeated defeats to break your stubborn self-will?
- How many painful lessons must you endure before you move from shallow seeking to complete surrender?
- What does it take for you to recognize that your fundamental approach, not just your effort, needs correction?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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 (כֻּלָּם שֹׁלְפֵי חָרֶב, kullam sholefei charev, 'all of them drawers of sword')—another devastating defeat! Israel loses 18,000 more warriors, bringing total casualties to 40,000 from their 400,000-man force. Benjamin remains dominant despite 15-to-1 numerical disadvantage.
The second defeat is even more shocking than the first because it follows specific consultation where Israel wept before the LORD and received permission to 'go up.' This demonstrates that God sometimes allows repeated failure to break stubborn self-will and drive us to complete surrender. Israel's two defeats cost 40,000 lives—more casualties than Benjamin's entire army (26,700). This catastrophic loss finally drives them to proper seeking in verses 26-28: fasting, burnt offerings, peace offerings, direct inquiry through the high priest, and explicit question about victory. God's pedagogy uses painful consequences to teach that religious activity without heart humility accomplishes nothing. When shallow seeking persists despite initial failure, God may intensify discipline until we learn to seek Him properly.