Judges 20:32 Meaning and Explanation
“And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Benjamin boasts that Israel is beaten as before, while Israel deliberately feigns flight to draw them from the city.
What Does Judges 20:32 Mean?
The two sides' words reveal the trap. Benjamin exults, 'They are smitten down before us, as at the first,' certain of another easy win. But Israel's plan is now spoken aloud: 'Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.' Their retreat is a feint, designed to pull Benjamin far enough from Gibeah for the ambush to take the undefended city.
The contrast is sharp and sobering. Benjamin reads the moment with proud certainty and reads it wrongly; Israel acts with deliberate strategy under the LORD's promise. Appearances deceive: what Benjamin takes for victory is the bait of their undoing. The verse illustrates how easily confidence built on past success and a wrong cause can misjudge reality entirely. Those who presume upon their own strength, set against justice, are most vulnerable to the very fall they cannot see coming.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 20:32
What does Judges 20:32 mean?
Benjamin boasts that Israel is beaten as before, while Israel deliberately feigns flight to draw them from the city.