And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.
The Benjamites said, 'We're defeating them just like we did before.' But the Israelites said, 'Let's retreat and draw them away from the city onto the main roads.'
The Israelites pretended to retreat to trick the Benjamites into leaving their fortified city and following them into a trap.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Judges, the tribes of Israel are engaged in a civil war against the tribe of Benjamin due to a horrific crime committed in Gibeah, as described in the preceding chapters. The Israelites had gathered to demand justice, but when Benjamin refused, they planned a tactical battle strategy involving feigned retreat to draw their enemies out. This verse depicts a key moment in that conflict, where the Benjamites mistakenly believed they were winning, while the Israelites executed their ruse to gain an advantage.
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