Now 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.
The Israelite army had arranged a signal with the soldiers hiding in ambush: when they captured the city, they would send up a large column of smoke and fire as a sign.
The writer is describing how the Israelite army coordinated their battle strategy using a smoke signal to communicate between their main force and their hidden troops.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes from the account of Israel's civil war against the tribe of Benjamin, specifically the battle at Gibeah. The Israelites were using military tactics similar to those used against Ai earlier in their history, employing a diversionary attack while troops in ambush would strike from behind. This was the third and final assault against Benjamin after two previous defeats.
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