Definition: And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Judges 20:35. It’s a really important and dramatic story about a conflict and its consequences. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: A Problem Started with a Leader: The verse begins with a leader named Benjamin who was appointed to lead the Israelites. Benjamin’s Rebellion: Benjamin, feeling unfairly treated by God, decided to rebel against his superiors and challenge their authority. He led a group of around 20,000-30,000 men – essentially a large fighting force – and began attacking Israel. The Attack Escalates: This rebellion quickly turned into a violent conflict. The rebels attacked the Israelites, and they destroyed a significant portion of the population. What Happened Next? Massive Loss of Life: A truly shocking part of the story is that all these rebels – around 20,000-30,000 men – fought fiercely and ultimately killed many Israelites. Sword Fighting: The text explicitly says "all these drew the sword." This indicates a brutal, bloody battle where people were actively fighting each other. The Significance & What It Means: This story is significant because it highlights: Divine Justice: God was very angry with Benjamin and his followers. His judgment against them wasn’t just about punishment; it was about fulfilling God's will. The Power of Rebellion: It shows that even seemingly respected leaders can be challenged and rebellious, and that rebellion can have devastating consequences. Violence and Consequences: The story emphasizes that conflict has a cost – in this case, immense loss of life. In short, the verse tells us about a major uprising led by Benjamin, which resulted in a massive bloodshed and destruction of the Israelites. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific biblical story or theme (like obedience or God's justice)? Provide context about the time period when this happened?