Judges 20:45 Meaning and Explanation
“And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Benjamites flee toward the rock of Rimmon, but five thousand more are cut down on the roads and two thousand near Gidom.
What Does Judges 20:45 Mean?
The remnant of Benjamin flees toward the wilderness and the rock of Rimmon, hoping for refuge. But the pursuit continues relentlessly. Israel 'gleaned' five thousand more along the highways, the word picturing how thoroughly they were gathered up, and pursued the rest hard to Gidom, killing two thousand more. The flight becomes a long, deadly retreat with little escape.
The image of gleaning, like gathering the last grain left in a field, conveys how complete the destruction was. Few of Benjamin's fighting men remained. The verse sustains the sober tone of a tribe brought to the edge of ruin by its own refusal to do right. Yet the mention of the rock of Rimmon plants a small seed of hope, for it is there, as the next chapter tells, that a surviving remnant will shelter. Even amid judgment, a thread of survival is preserved.
Judges 20:45 in the Original Language
alal (עָלַל), 'gleaned' -- to gather the gleanings, picturing how thoroughly the fleeing were picked off, like grain left in a harvested field.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 20:45
What does Judges 20:45 mean?
The Benjamites flee toward the rock of Rimmon, but five thousand more are cut down on the roads and two thousand near Gidom.