Judges 20:40
New International Version
But when the column of smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites turned and saw the whole city going up in smoke.

New Living Translation
But when the warriors of Benjamin looked behind them and saw the smoke rising into the sky from every part of the town,

English Standard Version
But when the signal began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven.

Berean Standard Bible
But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw the whole city going up in smoke.

King James Bible
But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.

New King James Version
But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and there was the whole city going up in smoke to heaven.

New American Standard Bible
But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, Benjamin looked behind them; and behold, the entire city was going up in smoke to heaven.

NASB 1995
But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, Benjamin looked behind them; and behold, the whole city was going up in smoke to heaven.

NASB 1977
But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, Benjamin looked behind them; and behold, the whole city was going up in smoke to heaven.

Legacy Standard Bible
But the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, and Benjamin turned behind them; and behold, the whole city was going up in smoke to heaven.

Amplified Bible
But when the [signal] cloud began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the entire city went up in smoke to heaven.

Christian Standard Bible
But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, Benjamin looked behind them, and the whole city was going up in smoke.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, Benjamin looked behind them, and the whole city was going up in smoke.

American Standard Version
But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and, behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven.

English Revised Version
But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But when the column of smoke started to rise from the city, the men of Benjamin turned around and saw the whole city going up in smoke.

Good News Translation
Then the signal appeared; a cloud of smoke began to go up from the town. The Benjaminites looked behind them and were amazed to see the whole city going up in flames.

International Standard Version
But then the smoke began to rise from the city in a column. The army of Benjamin observed behind them that the whole city was going up in flames straight into the sky!

Majority Standard Bible
But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw the whole city going up in smoke.

NET Bible
But when the signal, a pillar of smoke, began to rise up from the city, the Benjaminites turned around and saw the whole city going up in a cloud of smoke that rose high into the sky.

New Heart English Bible
But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and look, the whole city went up in smoke into the sky.

Webster's Bible Translation
But when the flame began to rise from the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and behold, the flame of the city ascended to heaven.

World English Bible
But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the whole city went up in smoke to the sky.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
but the volume has begun to go up from the city—a pillar of smoke—and Benjamin turns behind, and behold, the perfection of the city has gone up toward the heavens.

Young's Literal Translation
and the volume hath begun to go up from the city -- a pillar of smoke -- and Benjamin turneth behind, and lo, gone up hath the perfection of the city toward the heavens.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the ascending began to go up from the city of the pillar of smoke, and Benjamin will turn behind, and behold, the whole city ascended up to the heavens.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And perceived as it were a pillar of smoke rise up from the city; and Benjamin looking back, saw that the city was taken, and that the flames ascended on high:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they saw something like a pillar of smoke ascending from the city. Likewise, Benjamin, looking back, discerned that the city was captured, for the flames were being carried on high.

New American Bible
But when the signal, the column of smoke, began to rise up from the city, Benjamin looked back and there was the whole city going up in smoke toward heaven.

New Revised Standard Version
But when the cloud, a column of smoke, began to rise out of the city, the Benjaminites looked behind them—and there was the whole city going up in smoke toward the sky!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But when the smoke began to rise out of the city like a pillar, the Benjamites looked behind them, and. behold, the flames of the city ascended up to heaven.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And smoke began to go up from the city like a pillar, and the sons of Benjamin turned their back, and behold, dense smoke of the city went up unto Heaven
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But when the beacon began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the signal went up increasingly over the city as a pillar of smoke; and Benjamin looked behind him, and behold the destruction of the city went up to heaven.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Civil War Against Benjamin
39the men of Israel would turn in the battle. When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.” 40 But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw the whole city going up in smoke. 41Then the men of Israel turned back on them, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they realized that disaster had come upon them.…

Cross References
Genesis 19:28
He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace.

Joshua 8:20
When the men of Ai turned and looked back, the smoke of the city was rising into the sky. They could not escape in any direction, and the troops who had fled to the wilderness now turned against their pursuers.

Isaiah 34:10
It will not be quenched—day or night. Its smoke will ascend forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever again pass through it.

Jeremiah 50:40
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there.

Amos 4:11
“Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.

Revelation 18:9
Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.

Revelation 18:18
and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. “What city was ever like this great city?” they will exclaim.

2 Peter 3:10
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

Matthew 24:15-18
So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), / then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. / Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. ...

Luke 17:29-30
But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. / It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Jeremiah 51:58
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Babylon’s thick walls will be leveled, and her high gates consumed by fire. So the labor of the people will be for nothing; the nations will exhaust themselves to fuel the flames.”

Ezekiel 38:22
I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.

Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.


Treasury of Scripture

But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.

a pillar

Genesis 19:28
And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

Song of Solomon 3:6
Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

Joel 2:30
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

Joshua 8:20
And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.

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Judges 20
1. The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong
8. The decree of the assembly
12. The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites
18. The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand
26. They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred.














But when the column of smoke
The phrase "column of smoke" signifies a signal or a sign of destruction. In the Hebrew context, the word for "column" (עַמּוּד, 'ammud) can also mean a pillar, often used to describe something that stands firm and is visible from afar. This imagery is reminiscent of the pillar of cloud and fire that guided the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22), symbolizing divine presence and guidance. Here, however, it marks a moment of judgment and calamity for the city of Gibeah, indicating the fulfillment of a strategic plan by the Israelites.

began to rise from the city
The rising smoke is a visual confirmation of the city's destruction. In ancient warfare, smoke was often used as a signal, and its rising would have been a clear indication of the city's fall. The Hebrew verb used here for "rise" (עָלָה, 'alah) often conveys the idea of something ascending or going up, which in this context, underscores the totality of the destruction as the smoke ascends to the heavens, visible to all.

the Benjamites looked behind them
This phrase captures a moment of realization and impending doom for the Benjamites. The act of looking behind suggests a sudden awareness and a shift in focus from their immediate battle to the broader consequences of their actions. In the Hebrew narrative, turning to look back often signifies a moment of reckoning or realization, as seen in the account of Lot's wife (Genesis 19:26).

and saw the whole city going up in smoke
The phrase "going up in smoke" is a vivid depiction of total destruction. The Hebrew word for "whole" (כָּל, kol) emphasizes the completeness of the devastation. This imagery is not just about physical destruction but also symbolizes the end of a community and its way of life. The smoke rising is a testament to the thoroughness of the judgment executed upon the city.

to the sky
The phrase "to the sky" indicates the magnitude of the destruction, with the smoke reaching up to the heavens. In biblical literature, the sky often represents the realm of the divine, and the smoke reaching it can symbolize the cries of the city reaching God, or the visibility of the destruction to the divine realm. This upward movement of smoke serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and disobedience, echoing the biblical theme of divine justice.

(40) When the flame began to arise up.--Rather, when the column (of smoke), as in Judges 20:38.

The flame of the city.--Literally, the whole of the city--i.e., the universal conflagration--a very powerful expression. (LXX., ????????? ??? ??????.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But when the column
עַמּ֣וּד (‘am·mūḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5982: A column, a stand, platform

of smoke
עָשָׁ֑ן (‘ā·šān)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6227: Smoke

began
הֵחֵ֛לָּה (hê·ḥêl·lāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

to go up
לַעֲל֥וֹת (la·‘ă·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the city,
הָעִ֖יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

the Benjamites
בִּנְיָמִן֙ (bin·yā·min)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1144: Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelites

looked
וַיִּ֤פֶן (way·yi·p̄en)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look

behind them
אַחֲרָ֔יו (’a·ḥă·rāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

and saw
וְהִנֵּ֛ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

the whole
כְלִיל־ (ḵə·lîl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3632: Complete, the whole, as, fully

city
הָעִ֖יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

going up
עָלָ֥ה (‘ā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

in smoke.
הַשָּׁמָֽיְמָה׃ (haš·šā·mā·yə·māh)
Article | Noun - masculine plural | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky


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OT History: Judges 20:40 But when the cloud began to arise (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 20:39
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