Judges 20:35

KJV

And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the LORD {H3068} smote {H5062} Benjamin {H1144} before {H6440} Israel {H3478}: and the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} destroyed {H7843} of the Benjamites {H1145} that day {H3117} twenty {H6242} and five {H2568} thousand {H505} and an hundred {H3967} men {H376}: all these drew {H8025} the sword {H2719}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For ADONAI routed Binyamin in Isra'el's presence; that day the army of Isra'el destroyed 25,100 men of Binyamin, all of whom carried swords;

Berean Standard Bible

The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.

American Standard Version

And Jehovah smote Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty and five thousand and a hundred men: all these drew the sword.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 20:35 narrates the decisive turning point in the devastating civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the united tribes of Israel, where the Lord's direct intervention secured a catastrophic defeat for Benjamin. Following two initial setbacks for Israel, this verse highlights the divine judgment against Benjamin's unrepentant sin and defiance, culminating in the near annihilation of their fighting men and underscoring the severe consequences of rebellion against both divine and communal justice within the covenant people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 20:35 is positioned at the climactic moment of one of the darkest and most tragic narratives in the Book of Judges, encompassing chapters 19-21. The preceding events recount the horrific rape and murder of the Levite's concubine in Gibeah, a city within Benjamin's territory, and the subsequent refusal of the Benjamites to surrender the perpetrators to justice. This defiance escalates into a full-scale civil war. The earlier verses in [Judges 20](/judges/20 "Judges 20 - The War Against Benjamin") detail Israel's two humbling defeats at the hands of Benjamin (cf. [Judges 20:21](/judges/20-21 "Judges 20:21 - Israel's First Defeat") and [Judges 20:25](/judges/20-25 "Judges 20:25 - Israel's Second Defeat")), despite their numerical superiority and initial consultation with God. These defeats served to humble Israel, driving them to deeper repentance, weeping, and renewed seeking of the Lord's will, as explicitly described in [Judges 20:26-28](/judges/20-26 "Judges 20:26-28 - Israel's Repentance and God's Promise of Victory"). Therefore, verse 35 marks the divine response to Israel's renewed humility and the fulfillment of God's promise to grant them victory on the third attempt, signifying the decisive shift in the conflict.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Judges portrays a period of profound moral and spiritual decline in Israelite history, following the conquest of Canaan but preceding the monarchy. This era is famously characterized by the recurring lament, "in those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (e.g., [Judges 17:6](/judges/17-6 "Judges 17:6 - Everyone Did What Was Right in Their Own Eyes")). The atrocity in Gibeah and Benjamin's subsequent obstinacy vividly illustrate the breakdown of tribal unity, covenant faithfulness, and fundamental moral order. The Israelite tribal system relied heavily on collective responsibility and the swift administration of justice for heinous crimes to maintain social cohesion and covenant purity. Benjamin's refusal to purge evil from its midst was not merely a localized dispute but a direct challenge to the holiness of the covenant community and the very fabric of Israelite society, necessitating a severe and divinely sanctioned response from the other tribes.
* **Key Themes:** Judges 20:35 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes evident throughout the Book of Judges and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it emphatically underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment** against flagrant sin and unrepentance, even when committed by God's chosen people. Benjamin's defiance and complicity in wickedness provoke a direct divine intervention, demonstrating God's unwavering holiness and justice. Secondly, the verse highlights the dire **Consequences of Sin**, illustrating how moral decay and the failure to address evil can lead to devastating societal and personal ruin, bringing an entire tribe to the brink of extinction. Thirdly, it emphasizes **God's Sovereignty in Conflict**, revealing that despite the human elements of warfare, the ultimate outcome is directed by the Lord, who sovereignly orchestrates events to achieve His righteous purposes. Finally, the narrative leading to this verse, with Israel's initial defeats and subsequent repentance, reinforces the theme of the **Necessity of Humility and Repentance** before God. Only after Israel humbled itself and earnestly sought God's will did He grant them victory, emphasizing that true success and divine favor are contingent upon obedience and a right relationship with Him, a profound lesson echoed throughout the historical books (e.g., [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - If My People Who Are Called by My Name")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, this is the personal, covenant name of God, often transliterated as Yahweh. It means "the self-Existent or Eternal." Its presence here, "And the LORD smote Benjamin," is crucial. It signifies that the defeat of Benjamin was not merely a human military victory, but a direct, intentional act of the sovereign God of Israel. This emphasizes His active involvement in the affairs of His people and His commitment to upholding justice within the covenant community, even through severe judgment.
* **smote (Hebrew, _nāgaph'_):** From H5062, meaning "to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a disease); beat, dash, hurt, plague, slay, smite (down), strike, stumble, put to the worse." This verb consistently carries the connotation of a divinely inflicted blow or a decisive defeat caused by God. Its use here explicitly attributes Benjamin's catastrophic defeat not to Israel's military prowess, but to the direct, active, and decisive intervention of the Lord Himself. This underscores the theological point that Benjamin's destruction was an act of divine judgment, a plague or a striking from God.
* **destroyed (Hebrew, _shāchath'_):** From H7843, meaning "to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively); batter, cast off, corrupt(-er, thing), destroy(-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, utterly, waste(-r)." Used in the Hiphil stem, it implies that Israel "caused to be destroyed" or "utterly destroyed" the Benjamites. While _nāgaph'_ points to God's initial, decisive blow, _shāchath'_ describes the comprehensive and devastating nature of the human action that followed, acting as God's instrument. This word choice underscores the severity and totality of the judgment, signifying a near-complete eradication of Benjamin's fighting force, leaving the tribe on the brink of extinction.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel:"** This opening clause is the theological lynchpin of the entire verse. It unequivocally declares that the victory was not a result of Israel's superior strategy, numbers, or strength, but a direct, divine act. The Lord Himself intervened, inflicting a decisive blow upon the tribe of Benjamin. The phrase "before Israel" indicates that this divine action was evident and demonstrable to the other tribes, confirming God's alignment with their righteous cause after their repentance and supplication. This divine intervention transforms the battle from a mere inter-tribal conflict into an execution of divine judgment against a defiant and sinful tribe.
* **"and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men:"** This clause details the devastating human consequence of the Lord's smiting. Empowered and directed by God's intervention, the Israelite forces were able to inflict a catastrophic defeat upon Benjamin. The precise number—25,100 men—emphasizes the immense scale of the destruction. This was not a minor skirmish but a near-total annihilation of Benjamin's fighting men, underscoring the severity of the judgment and the immense cost of their unrepentant sin and defiance against the covenant community. This figure represents a significant portion, if not the majority, of Benjamin's military strength at the time.
* **"all these drew the sword."** This final phrase clarifies that the casualties were exclusively fighting men, those who were armed and engaged in battle. It emphasizes that the judgment was directed at the active participants in the rebellion and those who defended the wickedness in Gibeah, rather than a general slaughter of the entire population (though the implications for the tribe's survival were still dire). This detail highlights the military aspect of the defeat and the complete decimation of Benjamin's capacity to wage war or defend itself, leaving them utterly vulnerable and defeated.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several significant literary devices to convey its powerful message. **Divine Intervention** is paramount, explicitly stated with "the LORD smote Benjamin," elevating the narrative beyond human conflict to an act of divine justice. This is further emphasized through **Contrast**, as the Lord's decisive action stands in stark opposition to Israel's previous two humiliating defeats, highlighting the necessity of divine empowerment for true victory. The precise enumeration of casualties ("twenty and five thousand and an hundred men") serves as a form of **Specific Detail for Emphasis**, underscoring the completeness and severity of the judgment. While potentially a literal count, its literary function is to convey the utter devastation and the overwhelming nature of the defeat. Finally, the narrative employs **Irony**, as Benjamin, initially confident and victorious in their defiance, ultimately faces near-extinction due to its stubborn refusal to uphold justice, a stark reversal of fortune that underscores the dire consequences of defying God's moral order.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 20:35 profoundly illustrates God's active involvement in human affairs, particularly His unwavering commitment to justice and His intolerance for unrepentant sin within His covenant people. This verse serves as a stark reminder that while God is merciful and long-suffering, His holiness demands that sin be addressed, and defiance against His moral order carries severe consequences. It demonstrates that God's judgment can be both corporate and devastating, particularly when a community or tribe becomes complicit in wickedness and refuses to humble itself or repent. The entire narrative of Judges 19-21, culminating in this verse, acts as a dark mirror reflecting the depths of Israel's spiritual decline, where even a civil war was necessary to purge a profound evil, highlighting the critical importance of moral integrity and obedience to the covenant.

* [Deuteronomy 28:20](/deuteronomy/28-20 "Deuteronomy 28:20 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Proverbs 13:15](/proverbs/13-15 "Proverbs 13:15 - The Way of Transgressors is Hard")
* [Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - Sowing and Reaping")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 20:35, though a difficult and violent passage, offers profound and enduring lessons for contemporary believers and communities. It calls us to soberly consider the gravity of sin, particularly when it is condoned, defended, or allowed to fester within a community. Just as Benjamin's defiant complicity led to catastrophic judgment, so too can unaddressed sin within individual lives or corporate bodies lead to spiritual decay, division, and ultimately, divine discipline. The initial defeats of Israel also serve as a crucial reminder that even when we believe we are acting righteously, humility, self-examination, and persistent seeking of God's will are paramount. We must not rely on our own strength, wisdom, or numerical superiority, but on God's power and clear direction. This passage compels us to cultivate a posture of genuine repentance, both individually and corporately, to courageously confront sin rather than rationalize or ignore it, and to trust in God's perfect justice, even when His ways are severe and difficult to comprehend. It reminds us that God's holiness is non-negotiable, and His desire for purity among His people is unwavering.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the narrative of Benjamin's defeat challenge my understanding of God's justice and His patience with sin?**
* **In what ways might I, or my community, be inadvertently condoning or defending sin, similar to Benjamin's defiance, and what are the potential consequences?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a deeper sense of humility and absolute reliance on God's guidance in my personal and communal decisions, especially when facing conflict or moral challenges?**
* **How does the severity of this judgment impress upon me the importance of addressing sin decisively in my own life and advocating for righteousness in my spheres of influence?**

### FAQ

**Why did God allow Israel to be defeated twice before granting them victory?**

Answer: God allowed Israel to suffer two defeats (as seen in [Judges 20:21](/judges/20-21 "Judges 20:21 - Israel's First Defeat") and [Judges 20:25](/judges/20-25 "Judges 20:25 - Israel's Second Defeat")) primarily to humble them and to purify their motives. Initially, Israel may have been confident in their numerical superiority and the righteousness of their cause, but perhaps lacked true spiritual humility and complete dependence on God. The defeats forced them to deeper repentance, weeping before the Lord, offering sacrifices, and earnestly inquiring of Him (cf. [Judges 20:26-28](/judges/20-26 "Judges 20:26-28 - Israel's Repentance and God's Promise")). This process revealed that the ultimate victory was not due to their might, but solely by God's divine intervention and judgment, emphasizing His sovereignty and their desperate need for complete reliance on Him. It transformed what might have been merely a punitive expedition into a divinely sanctioned act of judgment, demonstrating that God's ways are higher than human strategies.

**Does this passage suggest that God condones violence or war?**

Answer: This passage, like many in the Old Testament, describes God's involvement in specific historical events, including warfare, often as a means of executing judgment against profound wickedness or establishing His covenant purposes. It does not necessarily condone violence in a general sense for all times and situations, but rather portrays a unique instance of divine judgment against a tribe that had committed heinous acts and defiantly refused justice within the covenant community. In the context of ancient Israel, God sometimes used human instruments, including war, to purge evil and maintain the holiness of His people and land. The narrative highlights God's justice and His commitment to moral order, even when it involves severe consequences. It is crucial to interpret such passages within their specific historical, theological, and redemptive-historical context, understanding that God's ultimate desire is for peace and righteousness, as revealed more fully in the New Testament through Christ (e.g., [Matthew 5:9](/matthew/5-9 "Matthew 5:9 - Blessed Are the Peacemakers") and [Romans 12:18](/romans/12-18 "Romans 12:18 - Live Peaceably with All")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 20:35, with its depiction of divine judgment against unrepentant sin and the near-annihilation of a defiant tribe, points forward to Christ in several profound ways. The chaotic and violent period of the Judges, marked by everyone doing "what was right in his own eyes," vividly illustrates humanity's desperate need for a righteous King and a perfect Judge. While God's judgment on Benjamin was severe and necessary to uphold His holiness within the Old Covenant, it foreshadows the ultimate, perfect judgment that will be executed by Jesus Christ. He is the one to whom "all judgment has been committed" by the Father ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - All Judgment Given to the Son")), and He will return not only as Savior but also as the righteous Judge of all the earth ([Acts 17:31](/acts/17-31 "Acts 17:31 - God Will Judge the World Through Jesus")). Furthermore, the need for a "smoting" to deal with sin in Judges 20:35 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's atoning sacrifice. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bearing the divine wrath and judgment against sin on the cross, so that all who believe might be spared from eternal destruction ([Romans 5:8-9](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8-9 - Christ Died for Us")). Thus, the terrifying judgment in Judges 20:35, while a historical event, ultimately deepens our appreciation for the boundless grace and mercy found in Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the demands of God's justice and offers true reconciliation and peace to all who turn to Him ([2 Corinthians 5:19](/2_corinthians/5-19 "2 Corinthians 5:19 - God Was Reconciling the World to Himself in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 20:5

That the triumphing of the wicked [is] short, and the joy of the hypocrite [but] for a moment?

Judges 20:15

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.

Judges 20:44

And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valour.

Judges 20:46

So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valour.