36
So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were smitten, for the men of Israel had given place to the Benjamites because they trusted those of the ambushes which they had set behind Gibeah.
37
Then the men of the ambushes rushed upon Gibeah and spread out and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.
38
Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and
the men of the ambushes that they should make a great signal by causing much smoke to rise up out of the city.
39
Then when the men of Israel turned
their backs in the battle and those of Benjamin began to smite
and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons, for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us as
in the first battle.
40
But when the signal began to arise up out of the city, a pillar of smoke, those of Benjamin looked behind them, and, behold, the whole consumption of the city ascended up to heaven.
41
Then the men of Israel turned again, and the men of Benjamin were terrified, for they saw that evil was come upon them.
42
Therefore, they turned
their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and those who
came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.
43
Thus they inclosed those of Benjamin round about
and chased them
and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.
44
And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these
were men of valour.
45
And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon; and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.
46
So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men that drew the sword; all these
were men of valour.