Judges - 20:29



29 Israel set ambushes all around Gibeah.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Judges 20:29.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.
And Israel set liers-in-wait against Gibeah round about.
And the children of Israel set ambushes round about the city of Gabaa:
So Israel set men in ambush round about Gib'e-ah.
And Israel setteth liers in wait against Gibeah, round about,
So Israel put men secretly all round Gibeah to make a surprise attack on it.
And the sons of Israel stationed ambushes around the city of Gibeah.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

The stratagem described is exactly that by which Joshua took Ai (marginal reference).

Israel set liers in wait - Though God had promised them success, they knew they could expect it only in the use of the proper means. They used all prudent precaution, and employed all their military skill.

And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah. For though they were assured of success and victory, yet they thought proper to make use of means: and though their numbers were very great, they had recourse to art and stratagem, and set an ambush in divers places, much in like manner as Israel did for the men of Ai; the two cases being pretty much similar; this ambush was set in the night, as Josephus says (s),
(s) Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2.) sect. 11.

THEY DESTROY ALL THE BENJAMITES, EXCEPT SIX HUNDRED. (Judges. 20:29-48)
And Israel set liers-in-wait round about Gibeah--A plan was formed of taking that city by stratagem, similar to that employed in the capture of Ai [Joshua 8:9].

The Victory on the Third Day's Engagement. - Judges 20:29. The account of this commences with the most important point, so far as their success was concerned: Israel set liers in wait (troops in ambush) round about Gibeah.

Liers in wait - Though they were assured of the success, by a particular promise, yet they do not neglect the use of means; as well knowing that the certainty of God's promises doth not excuse, but rather require man's diligent use of all fit means for the accomplishment of them.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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