38 And there was the appointed sign to the men of Israel with the ambush—their causing to go up a great volume of smoke from the city.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 20:38

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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.