36. and the Benjaminites realized they were defeated.The main body of the Israelite army had retreated from the Benjaminites because they were relying on the men that they had put in hiding round Gibeah.
37. These men ran quickly towards Gibeah; they spread out in the city and killed everyone there.
38. The main Israelite army and the men in hiding had arranged a signal. When they saw a big cloud of smoke going up from the town,
39. the Israelites out on the battlefield were to turn round. By this time the Benjaminites had already killed the thirty Israelites. They told themselves, “Yes, we've beaten them just as we did before.”
40. Then the signal appeared; a cloud of smoke began to go up from the town. The Benjaminites looked behind them and were amazed to see the whole city going up in flames.