38 Now the men of Israel had made a plan with the men in hiding. The men in the surprise attack were to send up a signal. It was to be a big cloud of smoke from the city.
39 So the army of Israel turned around in the battle.The Benjaminites had killed about 30 Israelites. They were saying, “We are winning, as in the first battle!”
40 But then the big cloud of smoke began to rise from the city. The Benjaminites turned around and saw it. The whole city was full of smoke that went up into the sky.
41 Then the Israelites turned and began to fight. The Benjaminites were terrified. Now they knew that disaster was coming to them.
42 So the Benjaminites ran away from the Israelites. They ran toward the desert. But they could not escape the battle. And the Israelites who came out of the cities killed them.
43 They surrounded the Benjaminites and chased them. They caught them in the area east of Gibeah.
44 So 18,000 brave and strong Benjaminite fighters were killed.