And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.
The soldiers who were hiding in ambush quickly rushed into Gibeah. These hidden troops spread out through the city and killed everyone with their swords.
This verse describes the moment when Israeli troops in hiding launched a surprise attack on the city of Gibeah, killing all its inhabitants.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Judges, during a time of tribal unrest in ancient Israel, the other Israelite tribes went to war against the tribe of Benjamin after a brutal crime was committed in the city of Gibeah, involving the rape and murder of a woman. As part of their strategy, the Israelites set up an ambush to surprise and attack Gibeah, as described in this verse, to enforce justice and punish the offenders. This event reflects the harsh realities of tribal warfare and the consequences of moral failure in early Israelite society.
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