New American Standard Bible

Judges 20:35-43 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

35. And the Lord struck Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day, all who draw the sword.

36. So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. When the men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah,

37. the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush also deployed and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

38. Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city.

39. Then the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, for they said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."

40. But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, Benjamin looked behind them; and behold, the whole city was going up in smoke to heaven.

41. Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were terrified; for they saw that disaster was close to them.

42. Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel toward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them while those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of them.

43. They surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest and trod them down opposite Gibeah toward the east.