Judg 20:36 ¶ So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. When the men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah,
Judg 20:37 the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush also deployed and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.
Judg 20:38 Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city.
Judg 20:39 Then the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, for they said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."
Judg 20:40 But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, Benjamin looked behind them; and behold, the whole city was going up in smoke to heaven.
Judg 20:41 Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were terrified; for they saw that disaster was close to them.
Judg 20:42 Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel toward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them while those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of them.
Judg 20:43 They surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest and trod them down opposite Gibeah toward the east.
Judg 20:44 Thus 18,000 men of Benjamin fell; all these were valiant warriors.
Judg 20:45 The rest turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, but they caught 5,000 of them on the highways and overtook them at Gidom and killed 2,000 of them.
Judg 20:46 So all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 men who draw the sword; all these were valiant warriors.
Judg 20:47 But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon four months.
Judg 20:48 The men of Israel then turned back against the sons of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city with the cattle and all that they found; they also set on fire all the cities which they found.
Judg 21:1 Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, "None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin in marriage."
Judg 21:2 So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.
Judg 21:3 They said, "Why, O LORD, God of Israel, has this come about in Israel, so that one tribe should be missing today in Israel?"
Judg 21:4 It came about the next day that the people arose early and built an altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
Judg 21:5 ¶ Then the sons of Israel said, "Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?" For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death."
Judg 21:6 And the sons of Israel were sorry for their brother Benjamin and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel today.
Judg 21:7 "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the LORD not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?"