Judges 20:42 nasb — Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel toward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle over…

NASB

"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."

— Judges 20:42, NASB

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Judges 20:42 in Other Translations

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Judges 20 — Context

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.

44

Thus 18,men of Benjamin fell; all these were valiant warriors.

45

The rest turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, but they caught 5,of them on the highways and overtook them at Gidom and killed 2,000 of them.

Judges 20:42 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Judges 20:42 say?
Judges 20:42 in the NASB reads: “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.”
Where is Judges 20:42 in the Bible?
Judges 20:42 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Judges, chapter 20, verse 42.
Who wrote Judges?
Judges is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel). It was written c. 1050–1000 BC.
What is the book of Judges about?
Judges chronicles the cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance that defined Israel between Joshua and Samuel. Through twelve raised-up deliverers — including Deborah, Gideon, and Samson — God repeatedly rescues a people who keep doing what is right in their own eyes.
What are the major themes of Judges?
Judges explores themes including Apostasy, Deliverance, Cycles of Sin, Need for a King, Mercy. These themes shape the meaning and context of Judges 20:42.
What translation should I read Judges 20:42 in?
Judges 20:42 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Judges 20:42?
Judges 20:42 reads (NASB): “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.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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