Judges 20:39-41

20:39 the Israelites counterattacked. ¹  Benjamin had begun to strike down the Israelites; ²  they struck down ³  about thirty men. They said, “There’s no doubt about it! They are totally defeated as in the earlier battle.” 20:40 But when the signal, a pillar of smoke, began to rise up from the city, the Benjaminites turned around and saw the whole city going up in a cloud of smoke that rose high into the sky. ⁴  20:41 When the Israelites turned around, the Benjaminites panicked ⁵  because they could see that disaster was on their doorstep. ⁶ 

[20:39]  ¹ tn Heb “turned in the battle.”

[20:39]  ² tn Heb “And Benjamin began to strike down wounded ones among the men of Israel.”

[20:39]  ³ tn The words “they struck down” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[20:40]  ⁴ tn Heb “Benjamin turned after him and, look, the whole city went up toward the sky.”

[20:41]  ⁷ tn Or “were terrified.”

[20:41]  ⁸ tn Heb “disaster touched against them.”