The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.
      (1.) Observe the method they took. The body of the army faced the city of Gibeah, as they had done before, advancing towards the gates, Judges 20:30; Judges 20:30. The Benjamites, the body of whose army was now quartered at Gibeah, sallied out upon them, and charged them with great bravery. The besiegers gave back, retired with precipitation, as if their hearts failed them upon the sight of the Benjamites, which they were willing to believe, proudly imagining that by their former success they had made themselves very formidable. Some loss the Israelites sustained in this counterfeit flight, about thirty men being cut off in their rear, Judges 20:31; Judges 20:39. But, when the Benjamites were all drawn out of the city, the ambush seized the city (Judges 20:37; Judges 20:37), gave a signal to the body of the army (Judges 20:38; Judges 20:40), which immediately turned upon them (Judges 20:41; Judges 20:41), and, it should seem, another considerable party that was posted at Baal-tamar came upon them at the same time (Judges 20:33; Judges 20:33); so that the Benjamites were quite surrounded, which put them into the greatest consternation that could be. A sense of guilt now disheartened them, and the higher their hopes had been raised the more grievous was this confusion. At first the battle was sore (Judges 20:34; Judges 20:34), the Benjamites fought with fury; but, when they saw what a snare they were drawn into, they thought one pair of heels (as we say) was worth two pair of hands, and they made the best of their way towards the wilderness (Judges 20:42; Judges 20:42); but in vain: the battle overtook them, and, to complete their distress, those who came out of the cities of Israel, that waited to see the event of the battle, joined with their pursuers, and helped to cut them off. Every man's hand was against them.