New International VersionOn that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters.
New Living TranslationSo that day the tribe of Benjamin lost 25,000 strong warriors armed with swords,
English Standard VersionSo all who fell that day of Benjamin were 25,000 men who drew the sword, all of them men of valor.
Berean Standard BibleThat day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor.
King James BibleSo that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.
New King James VersionSo all who fell of Benjamin that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all these were men of valor.
New American Standard BibleSo all those of Benjamin who fell that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were valiant men.
NASB 1995So all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 men who draw the sword; all these were valiant warriors.
NASB 1977So all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 men who draw the sword; all these were valiant warriors.
Legacy Standard BibleSo all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 men who drew the sword; all these were valiant men.
Amplified BibleSo all of Benjamin who fell that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword, all of them brave and able warriors.
Christian Standard BibleAll the Benjaminites who died that day were twenty-five thousand armed men; all were warriors.
Holman Christian Standard BibleAll the Benjaminites who died that day were 25,000 armed men; all were warriors.
American Standard VersionSo that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valor.
Contemporary English VersionTwenty-five thousand soldiers of Benjamin died that day, all of them experienced warriors.
English Revised VersionSo that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationIn all, 25,000 men from Benjamin who were armed with swords were killed that day. They were all experienced men.
Good News TranslationIn all, twenty-five thousand Benjaminites were killed that day--all of them brave soldiers.
International Standard VersionTo sum up, the soldiers from the tribe of Benjamin who died that day totaled 25,000 men, all of them expert swordsmen and valiant soldiers.
NET BibleThat day twenty-five thousand sword-wielding Benjaminites fell in battle, all of them capable warriors.
New Heart English BibleSo that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand swordsmen; all these were valiant fighters.
Webster's Bible TranslationSo that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valor. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThat day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor.
World English BibleSo that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword. All these were men of valor. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd all those falling of Benjamin are twenty-five thousand men drawing sword, on that day—all these [were] men of valor;
Young's Literal Translation And all those falling of Benjamin are twenty and five thousand men drawing sword, on that day -- the whole of these are men of valour;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd all those falling of Benjamin will be twenty and five thousand men drawing sword in that day; all these men of strength. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd so it came to pass, that all that were slain of Benjamin in divers places, were five and twenty thousand fighting men, most valiant for war.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd so it happened that all of those who were slain from Benjamin, in various places, were twenty-five thousand fighters, very willing to go to war.
New American BibleThe total of those from Benjamin who fell that day was twenty-five thousand swordsmen, all of them warriors.
New Revised Standard VersionSo all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand arms-bearing men, all of them courageous fighters. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valor.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd all who fell of the sons of Benjamin on that day were twenty and five thousand men drawing a sword, all of them mighty men OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd all that fell of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men that drew sword in that day: all these were men of might.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Civil War Against Benjamin… 45Then the Benjamites turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel cut down 5,000 men on the roads. And they overtook them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 more. 46Thatday25,000Benjamiteswordsmenfell,allmenof valor.47But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months.…
Cross References Judges 21:25In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Judges 19:29-30When he reached his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. / And everyone who saw it said, “Nothing like this has been seen or done from the day the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt until this day. Think it over, take counsel, and speak up!”
Deuteronomy 13:12-18If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said / that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known), / then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you, ...
Hosea 9:9They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.
Hosea 10:9Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not the battle in Gibeah overtake the sons of iniquity?
1 Samuel 11:7He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out together as one man.
1 Samuel 15:33But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.
2 Samuel 2:25-31The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill. / Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?” / “As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.” ...
2 Samuel 19:41-43Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” / And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?” / “We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah spoke more fiercely than the men of Israel.
2 Chronicles 28:6-8For in one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 valiant men in Judah. This happened because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. / Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the son of the king, Azrikam the governor of the palace, and Elkanah the second to the king. / Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their kinsmen—women, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a great deal of plunder and brought it to Samaria.
Isaiah 9:19-21By the wrath of the LORD of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire. No man even spares his brother. / They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring. / Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they turn against Judah. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
Jeremiah 7:34I will remove from the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem the sounds of joy and gladness and the voices of the bride and bridegroom, for the land will become a wasteland.”
Jeremiah 48:2There is no longer praise for Moab; in Heshbon they devise evil against her: ‘Come, let us cut her off from nationhood.’ You too, O people of Madmen, will be silenced; the sword will pursue you.
Matthew 24:21For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.
Luke 21:22-24For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. / How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. / They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Treasury of Scripture So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valor. twenty Judges 20:15,35 And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men… Jump to Previous BenjaminBenjamiteDrawDrawingDrewEndStrongSwordSwordsmenThousandTwentyTwenty-FiveValiantValorValourWarWarriorsWholeJump to Next BenjaminBenjamiteDrawDrawingDrewEndStrongSwordSwordsmenThousandTwentyTwenty-FiveValiantValorValourWarWarriorsWholeJudges 20 1.The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong8.The decree of the assembly12.The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites18.The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand26.They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred.That dayThe phrase "that day" refers to a specific moment in the narrative of the Israelite civil war against the tribe of Benjamin. This conflict arose from the grievous crime committed in Gibeah, as detailed in Judges 19. The phrase underscores the immediacy and finality of the judgment executed upon the Benjamites, highlighting the culmination of a series of battles. It serves as a reminder of the swift and decisive nature of divine justice in the biblical narrative. 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell
The number 25,000 indicates the significant loss suffered by the tribe of Benjamin. This figure emphasizes the scale of the conflict and the severity of the punishment. The Benjamites were known for their skill in battle, as seen earlier inJudges 20:16, where they are described as left-handed slingers capable of hitting a target with precision. The fall of such a large number of warriors signifies a devastating blow to the tribe, both in terms of military strength and population. This event is a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and disobedience to God's law, as the tribe faced near annihilation due to their defense of the wickedness in Gibeah. all men of valor
The description "men of valor" highlights the bravery and combat prowess of the Benjamite warriors. This term is often used in the Old Testament to denote individuals of exceptional courage and strength, such as Gideon inJudges 6:12. Despite their valor, the Benjamites' downfall illustrates that human strength and bravery are insufficient when opposed to divine will. The narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and the importance of aligning one's actions with God's commandments. The fall of these valiant men also foreshadows the ultimate victory of righteousness over wickedness, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical text. Persons / Places / Events 1. BenjamitesA tribe of Israel, descended from Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob. Known for their skill in battle and bravery. 2. IsraelitesThe collective tribes of Israel, excluding Benjamin, who united to address the moral and social corruption within the tribe of Benjamin. 3. GibeahA city in the territory of Benjamin where a grievous crime occurred, leading to the conflict between the Benjamites and the other Israelite tribes. 4. BattleA significant conflict between the tribe of Benjamin and the other Israelite tribes, resulting in heavy casualties for the Benjamites. 5. Valiant WarriorsRefers to the skilled and courageous fighters from the tribe of Benjamin who fell in battle. Teaching Points The Consequences of SinThe conflict arose from a moral failure in Gibeah, reminding us that sin can have devastating communal consequences. Unity and JusticeThe Israelites' response to the crime in Gibeah underscores the importance of unity and justice in addressing sin within the community. The Cost of WarThe heavy loss of life among the Benjamites serves as a sobering reminder of the cost of conflict and the value of seeking peace. God's SovereigntyDespite the chaos and destruction, God's sovereign plan unfolds, reminding us that He is in control even in dire circumstances. Repentance and RestorationThe aftermath of the battle leads to reconciliation and restoration, illustrating the power of repentance and God's mercy. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Judges 20:46?
2.How does Judges 20:46 demonstrate the consequences of disobedience to God's commands?
3.What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' actions in Judges 20:46?
4.How does Judges 20:46 connect to God's justice throughout the Old Testament?
5.How can we apply the lessons of Judges 20:46 to our daily lives?
6.What role does repentance play in avoiding outcomes like those in Judges 20:46?
7.Why did God allow such a large loss of life in Judges 20:46?
8.How does Judges 20:46 align with the concept of a loving God?
9.What historical evidence supports the events described in Judges 20:46?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 20?
11.What is the Tribe of Benjamin?
12.Judges 20:15 - How could only 26,000 men from Benjamin withstand the combined forces of Israel for so long, given the massive numerical imbalance?
13.Judges 20:35-46 - Is the near-total annihilation of an entire tribe by fellow Israelites consistent with the broader biblical message of unity among God's people?
14.Judges 20:18-23 - Why would God direct Israel to attack Benjamin, allow defeat twice, and then finally grant them victory on the third attempt?What Does Judges 20:46 Mean That day“ That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor.” (Judges 20:46) • “That day” ties the statement to the third and decisive engagement in Israel’s civil war (Judges 20:35). • God had twice allowed Israel to be repulsed, but “that day” He granted victory after they sought Him with fasting and offerings (Judges 20:26-28). • The phrase underscores a specific, historical moment—one day in which judgment descended swiftly, echoing earlier warnings that sin’s consequences can arrive suddenly (Deuteronomy 32:35).
25,000 Benjamite swordsmen• Earlier, Benjamin fielded 26,000 warriors plus 700 select left-handed slingers (Judges 20:15-16). Losing 25,000 means almost the entire army was wiped out. • The precision shows Scripture’s reliability in recounting actual numbers, just as census figures inNumbers 1 do. • It also reveals the severity of Israel’s response to Benjamin’s refusal to purge the evil committed at Gibeah (Judges 19). The tribe chose solidarity with sin over repentance, and the cost was nearly total annihilation (cf.Joshua 7:25 for how collective sin can invite collective judgment).
Fell• “Fell” is the common biblical way to describe warriors slain in combat (1 Samuel 31:1, 8). •Judges 20:35 makes clear who orchestrated the fall: “the LORD struck down 25,100 Benjamites before Israel.” Human swords did the striking, but divine justice directed the outcome. • Their fall serves as a sober reminder that no military skill or tribal loyalty can shield against God’s righteous judgment (Psalm 33:16-17).
All men of valor• Benjamin’s soldiers were renowned fighters—left-handed, accurate, courageous (Judges 20:16). Valor, however, without righteousness, cannot save (Proverbs 21:31). • Scripture often pairs valor with faithfulness (2 Samuel 23:8-17), but here valor is emptied of its honor because it is enlisted in defense of wickedness (Judges 19:22-23). • The phrase accentuates the tragedy: brave men destroyed not for cowardice but for standing on the wrong side of holiness. Their bravery magnifies the cost of sin.
summaryJudges 20:46 records a literal, historic slaughter: on that single day, almost the entire Benjamite force—25,000 seasoned warriors—was cut down. The verse spotlights four truths: God’s justice arrives at a definitive moment; numbers matter because real people suffer real consequences; divine judgment is the true cause behind every enemy’s “fall”; and even great valor is futile when aligned against God’s righteousness. The verse warns and exhorts: stand with holiness, or even the strongest will fall. (46) Twenty and five thousand men.--Eighteen thousand killed in battle, ? 5,000 on the paved roads ( mesilloth) ,? 2,000 near Rimmon, ? 600 survivors, makes 25,600. But as the Benjamites were 26,700 (see Judges 20:15), either the total in Judges 20:15 is wrong, or we must make the much more natural supposition that 1,000 Benjamites, as against 40,000 Israelites (which would only be 1 to 36), had fallen in the two first battles.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Thatהַה֑וּא(ha·hū)Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931:He, self, the same, this, that, as, aredayבַּיּ֣וֹם(bay·yō·wm)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117:A day25,000עֶשְׂרִים֩(‘eś·rîm)Number - common plural
Strong's 6242:Twenty, twentiethBenjamiteמִבִּנְיָמִ֗ן(mib·bin·yā·min)Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1144:Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelitesswordsmenחֶ֖רֶב(ḥe·reḇ)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719:Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, swordfell,הַנֹּ֨פְלִ֜ים(han·nō·p̄ə·lîm)Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5307:To fall, lieallכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everyvaliant warriors.אַנְשֵׁי־(’an·šê-)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 376:A man as an individual, a male person
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OT History: Judges 20:46 So that all who fell that day (Jd Judg. Jdg) |
