Judges 20:31

31 When the Benjaminites came out to meet them, they were drawn away from the city. They began to strike down some of the troops just like the last time, about thirty Israelites along the main roads, one of which goes up to Bethel and one to Gibeah, as well as in the open fields.

Judges 20:31 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 20:31

And the children of Benjamin went out against the people
Sallied out of Gibeah upon them, where they had put themselves in array against them:

and were drawn away from the city;
the Israelites retreating, and dissembling a flight, which drew the Benjaminites to pursue after them, by which means they were drawn off to a greater distance from the city of Gibeah:

and they began to smite the people, and kill as at other times;
at the other two battles;

in the highways;
where it seems two ways met:

of which one goeth up to the house of God;
to Bethel, as the Targum {t}; or rather to Shiloh, where the house or tabernacle of God was, and was two miles from Gibeah, as Bunting ^F21 says:

and the other to Gibeah in the field;
so called, to distinguish it from the other Gibeah situated on an hill:

about thirty men of Israel;
which were killed in this running fight; and it seems as if one part of the army of Israel took one road, and the other the other road, and so divided the army of the Benjaminites that pursued after them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 So the Septuagint, and Noldius, p. 69. No. 345.
F21 Travels p. 121.

Judges 20:31 In-Context

29 So the Israelites set ambushes around Gibeah.

30 Three days later, the Israelites marched out against the Benjaminites. They lined up for battle against Gibeah as before.

31 When the Benjaminites came out to meet them, they were drawn away from the city. They began to strike down some of the troops just like the last time, about thirty Israelites along the main roads, one of which goes up to Bethel and one to Gibeah, as well as in the open fields.

32 The Benjaminites thought, They're being wiped out before us like the first time. But the Israelites had planned, We'll retreat and draw them away from the city toward the main roads.

33 The Israelites moved from their position and reformed their battle lines at Baal-tamar. Then the Israelites who had been set in ambush charged out from their positions west of Gibeah.