Judges 20:40

40 But when the column of smoke started to rise from the city, the men of Benjamin turned around and saw the whole city going up in smoke.

Judges 20:40 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 20:40

But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a
pillar of smoke
Fire being set to it by the liers in wait, who had entered it, and who made a large fire, which caused a vast pillar of flame and smoke to arise, which might be seen a great way off:

the Benjamites looked behind them;
perhaps at hearing the blowing of the trumpet, and the long sound of that:

and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven;
went upwards, and reached to a great height.

Judges 20:40 In-Context

38 The men of Israel had arranged with those waiting in ambush that they would make a big column of smoke rise from the city as a signal.

39 Then the men of Israel would turn around in the battle. The men of Benjamin had already killed about 30 men of Israel. They even said, "Israel is completely defeated, just like in the first battle."

40 But when the column of smoke started to rise from the city, the men of Benjamin turned around and saw the whole city going up in smoke.

41 Then the men of Israel turned around, and the men of Benjamin panicked. They realized that their evil had overtaken them.

42 They turned in front of Israel toward the road to the desert. But the battle caught up with the men of Benjamin. Israel slaughtered whoever came out of the cities on the road to the desert.