Judges 20:37 Meaning and Explanation
“And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The ambush rushes upon Gibeah and strikes the entire city with the sword.
What Does Judges 20:37 Mean?
The hidden force completes its work. The liers in wait hasten, rush upon the now-undefended Gibeah, spread through it, and put the whole city to the sword. With Benjamin's warriors drawn far away into the open field, Gibeah itself, the source of the original crime, falls. The town that sheltered the guilty and refused justice meets its end.
There is a solemn justice in this moment. Gibeah, where the unspeakable evil of chapter 19 took place, and which Benjamin chose to defend rather than surrender, is at last brought down. The narrative does not gloat, but it does let the reckoning fall where the wrong began. The verse reminds us that evil sheltered and unrepented does not escape forever. God is patient, but he does not finally leave grievous wrong unaddressed; sin defended becomes sin judged.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 20:37
What does Judges 20:37 mean?
The ambush rushes upon Gibeah and strikes the entire city with the sword.