Judges 20:31-33

20:31 The Benjaminites attacked ¹  the army, leaving the city unguarded. ²  They began to strike down their enemy ³  just as they had done before. On the main roads (one leads to Bethel, ⁴  the other to Gibeah) and in the field, they struck down ⁵  about thirty Israelites. 20:32 Then the Benjaminites said, “They are defeated just as before.” But the Israelites said, “Let’s retreat ⁶  and lure them ⁷  away from the city into the main roads.” 20:33 ⁸  All the men of Israel got up from their places and took their positions at Baal Tamar, while the Israelites hiding in ambush jumped out of their places west of Gibeah.

¹ tn Heb “went out to meet.”

² tn Heb “and they were drawn away from the city.”

³ tn Heb “from the army wounded ones.”

⁴ map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

⁵ tn The words “they struck down” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

⁶ tn Or “run away.”

⁷ tn Heb “him” (collective singular).

¹¹ sn Verses 33-36a give a condensed account of the battle from this point on, while vv. 36b-48 offer a more detailed version of how the ambush contributed to Gibeah’s defeat.