Judges 20:38-42 · Bible study
Judges 20:38-42 Commentary: Smoke Signal and Divine Turning
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study how the coordinated smoke signal in Judges 20:38-42 reveals God's providential hand in Israel's victory over Benjamin after earlier defeats.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The prearranged smoke signal from Gibeah triggers Israel's feigned retreat to become a real assault, turning Benjamin's perceived victory into catastrophic defeat.
- Key words: mo'ed (appointed sign/time), 'amud 'ashan (pillar of smoke), bahal (dismay, terror).
- Main debate: Whether “those who came out of the cities” (v.42) refers to additional Benjamites or the ambushing force from Gibeah.
- Theological theme: Divine providence works through coordinated human action and timely signals, often turning pride into a snare.
- Best use: A case study in God’s orchestration of reversal and a caution against overconfidence based on incomplete evidence.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
38The men of Israel had arranged a signal with the men in ambush: When they sent up a great cloud of smoke from the city,
39the men of Israel would turn in the battle. When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.”
40But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw the whole city going up in smoke.
41Then the men of Israel turned back on them, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they realized that disaster had come upon them.
42So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there.
WEB World English Bible 2000
38Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushers was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.
39The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, “Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.”
40But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the whole city went up in smoke to the sky.
41The men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that disaster had come on them.
42Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness, but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the middle of it.
KJV King James Version 1769
38Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.
39And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.
40But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.
41And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.
42Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
38Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers-in-wait was, that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.
39And the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.
40But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and, behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven.
41And the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil was come upon them.
42Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and they that came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst thereof.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
38And there was the appointed sign to the men of Israel with the ambush--their causing to go up a great volume of smoke from the city.
39And the men of Israel turn in battle, and Benjamin hath begun to smite the wounded among the men of Israel, about thirty men, for they said, `Surely they are utterly smitten before us, as at the first battle;
40and the volume hath begun to go up from the city--a pillar of smoke--and Benjamin turneth behind, and lo, gone up hath the perfection of the city toward the heavens.
41And the men of Israel have turned, and the men of Benjamin are troubled, for they have seen that the evil hath stricken against them--
42and they turn before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness, and the battle hath followed them; and those who are from the city are destroying them in their midst;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
38Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambush, that they should make a thick column of smoke rise up out of the city.
39And when the men of Israel turned back in the battle, Benjamin began to smite, slaying of the men of Israel about thirty men; for they said, Surely they are quite routed before us as in the first battle.
40And when the burning began to rise up out of the city as a pillar of smoke, Benjamin looked behind, and behold, the whole city ascended [in smoke] to the heavens.
41Then the men of Israel turned back, and the men of Benjamin were amazed, for they saw that disaster was come upon them.
42And they turned before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in their midst.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
38Now the children of Israel had given a sign to them, whom they had laid in ambushes, that after they had taken the city, they should make a fire: that by the smoke rising on high, they might shew that the city was taken.
39And when the children of Israel saw this in the battle, (for the children of Benjamin thought they fled, and pursued them vigorously, killing thirty men of their army)
40And perceived, as it were, a pillar of smoke rise up from the city; and Benjamin looking back, saw that the city was taken, and that the flames ascended on high:
41They that before had made as if they fled, turning their faces, stood bravely against them. Which the children of Benjamin seeing, turned their backs,
42And began to go towards the way of the desert, the enemy pursuing them thither also. And they that fired the city came also out to meet them.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Judges 20:38
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the central hinge of this passage is the appointed smoke signal, the mo'ed, a term that carries both the sense of an appointed time and a meeting point (Gill, Cambridge). The signal triggers Israel's feigned retreat to become a real attack, and Benjamin's perception shifts from overconfidence to terror. Matthew Henry notes how Benjamin's cry 'Surely they are struck down before us' exposes a fatal pride, a miscalculation the narrator underlines by repeating the phrase from verse 32. The Cambridge Bible observes that the whole sequence closely parallels Joshua 8, suggesting the Ai stratagem served as a template. Though the narrative details were 'loose assemblage' (Ellicott), the theological point is clear: God orchestrated the timing so that Benjamin's very confidence became its own trap.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- The signal as tactical device: Emphasises the military coordination and the parallel with Joshua 8; God’s role is through the wise planning of Israel.
- The signal as providential sign: Highlights the verb 'appointed' (mo'ed) and the timing of the reversal as evidence of God’s active orchestration after Israel repented.
- The passage as theodicy: Focuses on why God allowed the earlier defeats; the smoke signal marks the moment when judgment shifts from Israel to Benjamin.
What is clear: That the coordinated ambush succeeded because of a prearranged signal, and that Benjamin’s overconfidence led to their panic and defeat.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of 'those who came out of the cities' (Jdg 20:42) | They were a second attacking force that struck Benjamin from another direction. | Barnes argues they were Benjamite civilians from other towns; Cambridge suggests emending to 'out of the city' (Gibeah) to refer to the ambush force. |
| Text of 'great cloud of smoke' (Jdg 20:38) | The signal was a rising smoke column from Gibeah. | Cambridge judges the word 'great' (herev) a likely scribal insertion, omitted by LXX and Syriac; others retain it as original. |
| Theological significance of the smoke pillar | The smoke communicated victory to Israel and judgment to Benjamin. | Cambridge doubts the word 'holocaust' (kalil) carries its technical sacrificial sense; some readers see a deliberate echo of burnt offerings (Deuteronomy 13:16). |
Historical & Cultural Context
The civil war with Benjamin (Judges 20) was the climax of the horrific events at Gibeah (Judges 19). Israel had suffered two earlier defeats, losing 40,000 men. Only after weeping, fasting and sacrificing at Bethel did God promise victory (Judges 20:26-28). The battle plan involved drawing the Benjamites away from Gibeah by feigned flight, then springing an ambush, a tactic already used at Ai (Joshua 8). The appointed sign (Hebrew mo'ed) could mean a fixed time as well as a signal (Gill cites Targum). A great pillar of smoke ('amud 'ashan) rising from the burning city would tell the main Israelite force to turn and fight. The wilderness road the Benjamites fled toward was the barren region east of Gibeah descending to the Jordan valley (Barnes, Cambridge). The identity of 'those who came out of the cities' (verse 42) is ambiguous: Barnes takes them as Benjamites from other towns trying to help; Cambridge suggests a textual emendation to 'out of the city', referring to the ambush force itself. Either way, Benjamin was caught between two attacking forces. The smoke signal serves as both a practical communication tool and a theological marker: destruction ascending to heaven signals divine judgment, reminiscent of Sodom (Genesis 19:28) and later prophecy (Joel 2:30).
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note a minor textual difficulty at verse 38. The word rendered 'great' (hereb) is an ungrammatical form. Cambridge Bible suggests it is an incorrect repetition from the preceding clause and is omitted by the LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate. No other significant variants are mentioned for this passage.
Reception History
In the history of interpretation, this episode has often served as a cautionary tale about pride and the sudden reversal of fortune. Matthew Henry (1710) used it to underscore that those who say 'Peace and safety' may face sudden destruction. The parallel with Joshua 8 ensured the passage was read typologically: as Israel conquered Canaan through a ruse, so God’s people sometimes advance through apparent weakness. The pillar of smoke also resonated with prophetic imagery (Joel 2:30; Revelation 19:3), and some hymnody has drawn on 'the smoke of her torment' to evoke final judgment. Across traditions, the signal remains a vivid example of God turning human strategy to divine purpose.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Signal That Changes Everything, The rising smoke was the divinely timed trigger that turned Israel’s defeat into victory, showing that God works through concrete, planned signs.
- Overconfidence Unmasked, Benjamin’s repeated boast “Surely they are struck down before us” blinded them to the approaching disaster; pride still sets us up for a fall.
- The Panic of Realization, When they saw the city in flames, terror replaced triumph. True security lies not in past success but in humble dependence on God.
Five-point outline
- The appointed sign: God’s timing is precise.
- The feigned retreat: strategy born from repentance.
- The boast of Benjamin: pride perverts perception.
- The pillar of smoke: a visible word of judgment.
- The two-front destruction: no escape from divine justice.
Illustration hooks
- Sports upset: A team that wins two early games gets cocky, slacks off, then loses the championship when the opponent changes its formation.
- Fire drill coordinatation: Two groups in a building agree: when a smoke machine is set off in one wing, the other wing moves to safety. The signal is simple but the timing must be exact.
- GPS misdirection: You trust the voice that keeps saying “you are on the fastest route” until suddenly you realise you are in gridlock, the same feeling as Benjamin looking behind them.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did God let Israel lose twice before winning the third time?
- How can we tell the difference between godly confidence and dangerous overconfidence?
- What “smoke signals” might God be sending to warn or redirect us?
Leading a Discussion
In this passage a single column of smoke decides the fate of an entire tribe. The Israelites had been humbled by two defeats; now they followed a precise plan that depended on one signal. What does this tell us about God’s way of working through human strategy and timing?
Discussion questions
- Why does the narrator emphasise that the signal was “appointed” (mo'ed)? What does that word suggest about the battle plans?
- How does Benjamin’s reaction in verses 39-40 show their mindset? In what ways do we repeat their mistake of assuming past outcomes guarantee future ones?
- Compare this ambush to Joshua’s capture of Ai (Joshua 8). Why might the author of Judges draw a connection to that earlier victory?
- The text says the men of Benjamin “were dismayed” or “terrified” when they saw the city in flames (verse 41). What triggered that fear, the sight, the sound, or the sudden turning of their pursuers?
- How does the turning point in this passage reshape your understanding of God’s sovereignty in the earlier defeats?
- In what settings are you tempted to boast like Benjamin, even when signs of trouble are already rising?
- What “smoke signals” in your own life might God be using to change your direction?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 17:21 | But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.” |
| Joshua 8:20 | When the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way. The people who fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers. |
| II Kings 4:16 | He said, “At this season next year, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your servant.” |
| Judges 20:32 | The children of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.” But the children of Israel said, “Let’s flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.” |
| Genesis 19:28 | He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and saw that the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. |
| Song of Solomon 3:6 | Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant? |
| Joel 2:30 | I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. |
| Revelation of John 19:3 | A second said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke observes that from this point onward the narrative moves from a general account to a detailed one. What follows is a fuller treatment of the same events already described more briefly in the preceding part of the chapter.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes identifies the wilderness as the specific stretch from Jericho to the hills of Bethel. He explains that the phrase "in the midst of them" refers to the Benjamites fleeing to their own cities for refuge, only to find no shelter there.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary argues the Hebrew text contains a grammatical error, and the original reading was likely "and that the men of Israel should turn" as part of a prearranged signal. The editor also notes the stratagem closely mirrors the capture of Ai in Joshua, suggesting one story influenced the other.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note explains that the rising smoke was a prearranged signal between Israel and their ambush. When the Benjamites saw the smoke pillar, they immediately recognized that disaster was upon them and fled in panic. The sudden turn of the battle was triggered by this agreed-upon sign.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes the careful military strategy behind the signal: the Israelites had fixed a specific time with the ambush team to set the city ablaze, creating a towering pillar of flame and smoke. The main army's retreat was a deliberate ruse to draw Benjamin away, and when they saw the signal, they turned back, catching the Benjamites between two forces in sudden shock.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that Israel's victory came through a deliberate military ruse: feigning retreat to lure Benjamin away from Gibeah, then ambushing the city. The Benjamites, overconfident from earlier successes, were completely surrounded and destroyed, with even the inhabitants of neighboring cities joining the slaughter. Only six hundred men survived by hiding in the wilderness.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley rejects Matthew Henry's claim that the goodness of God's promised land will intensify the punishment of those who perish. He argues that this reasoning fails under predestination: if some are not elected, they never had a genuine offer, and if all the elect are saved, the grant was never free to the others.