Judges 20:41

41 The men of Yisra'el turned, and the men of Binyamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil had come on them.

Judges 20:41 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 20:41

And when the men of Israel turned again
Turned their faces to the Benjaminites, on whom they had turned their backs; and which they did on hearing the sound of the trumpet, or seeing the flame of the city, or both, and that in order to fight the Benjaminites, and smite them, as now was their opportunity:

the men of Benjamin were amazed;
at this strange and sudden change of things, at the sight of the flame of their city behind them, and at the Israelites turning back to fight them, when they thought themselves sure of victory, as at other times:

for they saw that evil was come upon them;
that they were in the utmost danger, between two fires, as we usually say, liers in wait behind them, which had seized their city and burnt it, and the army of Israel turning upon them with great spirit and resolution.

Judges 20:41 In-Context

39 The men of Yisra'el turned in the battle, and Binyamin began to strike and kill of the men of Yisra'el about thirty persons; for they said, Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.

40 But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Binyamini looked behind them; and, behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to the sky.

41 The men of Yisra'el turned, and the men of Binyamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil had come on them.

42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Yisra'el to the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of it.

43 They enclosed the Binyamini round about, [and] chased them, [and] trod them down at [their] resting-place, as far as over against Gevah toward the sunrise.