Judges 20:48
And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.
Original Language Analysis
וְאִ֨ישׁ
And the men
H376
וְאִ֨ישׁ
And the men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
1 of 22
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)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
2 of 22
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
שָׁ֣בוּ
turned again
H7725
שָׁ֣בוּ
turned again
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
3 of 22
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
בְּנֵ֤י
upon the children
H1121
בְּנֵ֤י
upon the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
5 of 22
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בִנְיָמִן֙
of Benjamin
H1144
בִנְיָמִן֙
of Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
6 of 22
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
וַיַּכּ֣וּם
and smote
H5221
וַיַּכּ֣וּם
and smote
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
7 of 22
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
לְפִי
them with the edge
H6310
לְפִי
them with the edge
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
8 of 22
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
חֶ֔רֶב
of the sword
H2719
חֶ֔רֶב
of the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
9 of 22
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
הֶֽעָרִ֥ים
all the cities
H5892
הֶֽעָרִ֥ים
all the cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
10 of 22
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
עַ֖ד
as
H5704
עַ֖ד
as
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
12 of 22
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
בְּהֵמָ֔ה
the beast
H929
בְּהֵמָ֔ה
the beast
Strong's:
H929
Word #:
13 of 22
properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
עַ֖ד
as
H5704
עַ֖ד
as
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
14 of 22
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
15 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַנִּמְצָא֖וֹת
and all that came to hand
H4672
הַנִּמְצָא֖וֹת
and all that came to hand
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
16 of 22
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
גַּ֛ם
H1571
גַּ֛ם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
17 of 22
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
18 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הֶֽעָרִ֥ים
all the cities
H5892
הֶֽעָרִ֥ים
all the cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
19 of 22
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
הַנִּמְצָא֖וֹת
and all that came to hand
H4672
הַנִּמְצָא֖וֹת
and all that came to hand
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
20 of 22
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
Historical Context
The application of herem (devoted destruction) to Benjamin violated covenant provisions for treating brother Israelites. Deuteronomy 20:10-15 prescribed such complete destruction only for Canaanite nations, not fellow tribes. Israel's rage, though rooted in righteous indignation at crime resembling Sodom, exceeded proper bounds—leading to Benjamin's near-extinction and the desperate wife-stealing measures of chapter 21.
Questions for Reflection
- How does righteous anger escalate beyond proper bounds to become sinful vengeance?
- When do you treat covenant brothers with the same totality reserved for enemies?
- What safeguards prevent justice from becoming indistinguishable from revenge?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand (מִמְּתֹם עַד־בְּהֵמָה עַד כָּל־הַנִּמְצָא)—total destruction: men, animals, everything. Also they set on fire all the cities that they came to (גַּם כָּל־הֶעָרִים הַנִּמְצָאוֹת שִׁלְּחוּ בָאֵשׁ)—complete devastation of Benjamin's territory. This scorched-earth policy mirrors the herem (חֵרֶם, devoted destruction) commanded against Canaanite cities (Deuteronomy 7:2; 20:16-17).
Israel's treatment of Benjamin as if they were Canaanites under the ban demonstrates the chapter's tragic trajectory: righteous judgment against Gibeah's Sodom-like crime escalates to genocidal rage against the entire tribe. The distinction between punishing guilty parties and destroying an entire people blurs in the fury of warfare. This verse reveals how vengeance, even when initially righteous, can exceed proper bounds and become sin itself. Israel's actions ensure that Benjamin's near-extinction will require extraordinary measures (chapter 21) to prevent permanent loss of a tribe. The chapter ends with this disturbing image: covenant brothers destroying covenant brothers with the same totality commanded only against pagans. When 'everyone does what is right in his own eyes' (17:6; 21:25), even covenant justice becomes indistinguishable from pagan warfare.