32 The men of Benjamin shouted, “They’re defeated as before!”But the men of Israel had said, “Let’s flee in order to lead them from the city to the roads.”
33 So the men of Israel left their positions. They formed their battle line at Baal Tamar. Meanwhile, those waiting in ambush rushed from their position to the west of Gibeah.
34 Then 10,000 of Israel’s best men attacked Gibeah. The battle was fierce. But Benjamin’s men didn’t realize their own evil was about to overtake them.
35 So the Lord defeated them in front of Israel. On that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 men from Benjamin who were armed with swords.
36 Then the men of Benjamin realized they were defeated.The Israelites had allowed the men of Benjamin to take back some ground. The Israelites relied on those waiting in ambush near Gibeah.
37 The men in ambush quickly charged toward Gibeah. They spread out in the city and killed everyone.
38 The men of Israel had arranged with those waiting in ambush that they would make a big column of smoke rise from the city as a signal.