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Judges 20:38
ESV 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
NIV The Israelites had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke from the city,
NASB Now the agreed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city.
CSB The men of Israel had a prearranged signal with the men in ambush: when they sent up a great cloud of smoke from the city,
NLT They had arranged to send up a large cloud of smoke from the town as a signal.
KJV 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.
NKJV 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,

What does Judges 20:38 mean?

Israel's ambush (Judges 20:19) has worked perfectly. When their false retreat drew away the bulk of Benjamin's army (Judges 20:32–34), specially chosen fighters ambushed the city, killing everyone inside as God's judgment for the city's wickedness (Judges 19:22–28; 20:12). After defeating the inhabitants, Israel's forces set fire to the city.

This is not merely an act of destruction. The massive cloud of smoke which rises into the sky as the city burns serves as a signal. It will inform the rest of Israel's army that Gibeah is destroyed. The Israeli fighters luring the Benjaminites with a false retreat will see the smoke, know the Benjaminites have nowhere to fall back, and can turn to counterattack (Judges 20:40–42).
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