20:29-38
This time they seem to have a better thought out plan, with ambushments set in place. Initially it seemed as if things were going the same way as on the previous two days. But this time the army withdrew so that the ambush could be launched. A frontal attack was launched and twenty five thousand plus Benjaminites were killed. The ambush worked with Gibeah being put to the sword. Those who entered Gibeah were to “send up a great cloud of smoke from the city”. This was to be a signal to the rest of the army. People, including Christians, often ask, or look at situations, in terms of “is it God or is it man”, or “is it God or is it us”? This is not helpful. When we turn to the Lord we will find that we have better ideas, and that things start to work, as the Israelites found here.
20:39-48
The Benjaminites still thought they were winning, until they saw the smoke rising from the city. Only then, and when the counterattack was launched, did they realise that disaster was upon them. So they fled, but could not escape, with many thousands of them dying. The more they tried to run, the more they were cut down. Some six hundred did escape and hid in the wilderness for four months. Meantime, the Israelites razed the Benjaminite towns to the ground.
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