36. and the Benjaminites realized they were defeated.The main body of the Israelite army had retreated from the Benjaminites because they were relying on the men that they had put in hiding round Gibeah.
37. These men ran quickly towards Gibeah; they spread out in the city and killed everyone there.
38. The main Israelite army and the men in hiding had arranged a signal. When they saw a big cloud of smoke going up from the town,
39. the Israelites out on the battlefield were to turn round. By this time the Benjaminites had already killed the thirty Israelites. They told themselves, “Yes, we've beaten them just as we did before.”
40. 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.
41. Then the Israelites turned round, and the Benjaminites were thrown into a panic because they realized that they were about to be destroyed.
42. They retreated from the Israelites and ran towards the open country, but they could not escape. They were caught between the main army and the men who were now coming out of the city, and they were destroyed.
43. The Israelites had the enemy trapped, and without stopping they pursued them as far as a point east of Gibeah, killing them as they went.
44. 80,000 of the best Benjaminite soldiers were killed.
45. The others turned and ran towards the open country to the Rock of Rimmon. 5,000 of them were killed along the road. The Israelites continued to pursue the rest to Gidom, killing 2,000.
46. In all, 25,000 Benjaminites were killed that day — all of them brave soldiers.