Judges 20:44
And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.
Original Language Analysis
וַֽיִּפְּלוּ֙
And there fell
H5307
וַֽיִּפְּלוּ֙
And there fell
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
1 of 11
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן
of Benjamin
H1144
מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן
of Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
2 of 11
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
שְׁמֹנָֽה
eighteen
H8083
שְׁמֹנָֽה
eighteen
Strong's:
H8083
Word #:
3 of 11
a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal) eighth
עָשָׂ֥ר
H6240
עָשָׂ֥ר
Strong's:
H6240
Word #:
4 of 11
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
אֶ֖לֶף
thousand
H505
אֶ֖לֶף
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
5 of 11
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
אַנְשֵׁי
men
H376
אַנְשֵׁי
men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
6 of 11
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)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 11
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 11
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Historical Context
This verse describes the thorough nature of Benjamin's military defeat and the subsequent destruction of their tribal territory following the ambush strategy blessed by God after Israel's proper consultation.
Questions for Reflection
- How do victories that come after proper seeking of God still carry tragic costs?
- What does this reveal about the consequences of civil conflict among God's people?
- How can righteous judgments escalate beyond their proper scope?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Verse 44 details the aftermath of Benjamin's defeat. And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.... The systematic destruction of Benjamin's territory represents the tragic outcome when civil war erupts among God's people—victory comes at devastating cost to the covenant community.