38 The Israelites had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke from the city,

Other Translations of Judges 20:38

King James Version

38 Now there was an appointed sign sign: or, time 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.

English Standard Version

38 Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in the main ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city

The Message

38 The strategy for the main body of the ambush was that they send up a smoke signal from the city.

New King James Version

38 Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise up from the city,

New Living Translation

38 They had arranged to send up a large cloud of smoke from the town as a signal.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 20:38

Chapter Contents

The tribe of Benjamin nearly extirpated.

The Israelites' abhorrence of the crime committed at Gibeah, and their resolution to punish the criminals, were right; but they formed their resolves with too much haste and self-confidence. The eternal ruin of souls will be worse, and more fearful, than these desolations of a tribe.