Judges 20:44

44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valor.

Judges 20:44 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 20:44

And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men
Just the number they had slain of Israel in the second battle. This is the number of them that were slain when Israel turned upon them, and by that time they got to the east of Gibeah; afterwards 5000 more were slain on the highways, and 2000 near Gidom, as after related:

all these were men of valour;
as appears by three times facing and engaging with the army of Israel, so vastly superior to them, and twice beating them.

Judges 20:44 In-Context

42 Therefore they turned [their backs] before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them who [came] out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.

43 [Thus] they inclosed the Benjaminites on all sides, [and] chased them, [and] trod them down with ease over against Gibeah towards the sun-rising.

44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valor.

45 And they turned and fled towards the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them to Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.

46 So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valor.