Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But six hundred of them turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. New Living Translation leaving only 600 men who escaped to the rock of Rimmon, where they lived for four months. English Standard Version But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and remained at the rock of Rimmon four months. Berean Standard Bible But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. Berean Literal Bible And turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon six hundred men, and they stayed at the rock of Rimmon four months. King James Bible But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. New King James Version But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they stayed at the rock of Rimmon for four months. New American Standard Bible But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon; and they remained at the rock of Rimmon for four months. NASB 1995 But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon four months. NASB 1977 But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon four months. Legacy Standard Bible But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon four months. Amplified Bible But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and stayed at the rock of Rimmon for four months. Berean Annotated Bible But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon (pomegranate), where they stayed four months. Christian Standard Bible But six hundred men escaped into the wilderness to Rimmon Rock and stayed there four months. Holman Christian Standard Bible But 600 men escaped into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and stayed there four months. American Standard Version But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months. Contemporary English Version Only 600 of them finally made it into the desert to Rimmon Rock, where they stayed for four months. English Revised Version But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months. GOD'S WORD® Translation But 600 men turned and fled into the desert to Rimmon Rock. They stayed at Rimmon Rock for four months. Good News Translation But six hundred men were able to escape to the open country to Rimmon Rock, and they stayed there four months. International Standard Version However, 600 soldiers ran into the wilderness in the direction of the rock of Rimmon, where they remained as fugitives for four months. NET Bible Six hundred survivors turned and ran away to the wilderness, to the cliff of Rimmon. They stayed there four months. New Heart English Bible But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months. Webster's Bible Translation But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness to the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. World English Bible But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionbut six hundred men turn and flee into the wilderness, to the rock of Rimmon, and they dwell in the rock of Rimmon four months. Berean Literal Bible And turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon six hundred men, and they stayed at the rock of Rimmon four months. Young's Literal Translation and there turn and flee into the wilderness, unto the rock of Rimmon six hundred men, and they dwell in the rock Rimmon four months. Smith's Literal Translation And there will turn and flee to the desert to the rock Rimmon, six hundred men, and they will dwell in the rock Rimmon four months. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd there remained of all the number of Benjamin only six hundred men that were able to escape, and flee to the wilderness: and they abode in the rock Remmon four months. Catholic Public Domain Version And so there remained from the entire number of Benjamin six hundred men who were able to escape and to flee into the wilderness. And they settled at the rock of Rimmon, for four months. New American Bible Six hundred men turned and fled into the wilderness to the crag of Rimmon, where they remained for four months. New Revised Standard Version But six hundred turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and remained at the rock of Rimmon for four months. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they turned and fled to the wilderness to the cliff of Ramun, six hundred men, and they stayed at the cliff of Ramun four months OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the rest turned, and fled to the wilderness to the rock of Remmon, even six hundred men; and they sojourned four months in the rock of Remmon. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Civil War Against Benjamin…46That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor. 47But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. 48And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path.… Cross References But 600 men turned and fled 2 Samuel 1:4 “What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 1 Samuel 4:10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great—thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 1 Samuel 31:7 When the Israelites along the valley and those on the other side of the Jordan saw that the army of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and ran away. So the Philistines came and occupied their cities. into the wilderness 2 Samuel 15:23 Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness. 1 Samuel 25:1 When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran. 1 Samuel 23:14 And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand. to the rock of Rimmon, Judges 21:13 Then the whole congregation sent a message of peace to the Benjamites who were at the rock of Rimmon. 1 Samuel 23:25 and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there. 1 Samuel 24:2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. where they stayed four months. 1 Samuel 27:7 And the time that David lived in Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months. Acts 18:11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians. 2 Samuel 2:11 And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. Joshua 20:1-9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, / “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, / so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood. … 1 Samuel 22:1-2 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. / And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 1 Kings 19:3-4 And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, / while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 2 Samuel 2:3-4 David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron. / Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” Treasury of Scripture But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness to the rock Rimmon, and stayed in the rock Rimmon four months. six hundred Judges 21:13 And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them. Psalm 103:9,10 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever… Isaiah 1:9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Jump to Previous Abode Desert Dwell Hundred Months Rimmon Rock Six Turn Turned Turning Waste WildernessJump to Next Abode Desert Dwell Hundred Months Rimmon Rock Six Turn Turned Turning Waste WildernessJudges 20 1. The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong8. The decree of the assembly 12. The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites 18. The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand 26. They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred. But 600 men turned and fled This phrase indicates a remnant of the tribe of Benjamin who survived the devastating civil war against the other Israelite tribes. The number 600 is significant, as it represents a small fraction of the original fighting force, highlighting the severity of the conflict. The act of fleeing suggests desperation and a strategic retreat to preserve life. This remnant concept is echoed throughout Scripture, where God often preserves a faithful few, such as Noah's family during the flood or the remnant of Israel in prophetic writings. into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon where they stayed four months Persons / Places / Events 1. The BenjamitesA tribe of Israel involved in a civil war against the other Israelite tribes due to the grievous sin committed in Gibeah. 2. The Rock of Rimmon A location in the wilderness where the surviving Benjamite men sought refuge after their defeat. 3. The Wilderness Represents a place of refuge and survival, often associated with testing and divine encounters in the Bible. 4. The Civil War A conflict between the tribe of Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel, sparked by the atrocity committed in Gibeah. 5. The Four Months The period during which the surviving Benjamites stayed at the rock, indicating a time of reflection and regrouping. Teaching Points The Consequences of SinThe civil war and near destruction of the tribe of Benjamin serve as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of unchecked sin. Seeking Refuge in God Just as the Benjamites found refuge at the rock of Rimmon, believers are called to seek refuge in God during times of trial. The Wilderness Experience Times of isolation and testing can lead to spiritual growth and renewal if we remain faithful and seek God's guidance. Community and Reconciliation The eventual reconciliation between the Benjamites and the other tribes underscores the importance of unity and forgiveness within the body of Christ. Perseverance in Trials The endurance of the Benjamites during their four months at the rock encourages believers to persevere through difficult seasons, trusting in God's provision and timing. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 20:47?2. How does Judges 20:47 demonstrate God's provision even in dire circumstances? 3. What lessons can we learn from the 600 men who "fled to the rock"? 4. How does this verse connect to God's protection in Psalm 91? 5. How can we seek refuge in God during our personal battles today? 6. What does Judges 20:47 teach about perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds? 7. Why did 600 Benjamite men survive when others perished in Judges 20:47? 8. What does Judges 20:47 reveal about God's justice and mercy? 9. How does Judges 20:47 fit into the broader narrative of Israel's tribal conflicts? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 20? 11. Historically and archaeologically, is there evidence to support the repeated cycles of rebellion and divine judgment described throughout Ezekiel 20? 12. Why does the text promote the abduction of women as a solution for the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 21:20–23)? 13. Judges 20:35–46 – Is the near-total annihilation of an entire tribe by fellow Israelites consistent with the broader biblical message of unity among God’s people? 14. How did Jehoshaphat's army manage to march forth singing and then gather the spoils without engaging in a standard military offensive (2 Chronicles 20:21-25)? What Does Judges 20:47 Mean But 600 men turned• The previous verses record that “25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell that day” (Judges 20:46). Out of roughly 26,700 fighters (Judges 20:15), only 600 remain. • Their turning is a decisive retreat, a conscious break from the futile battle, similar to Israel’s earlier strategic withdrawals (Joshua 8:14–16). • Even here, the Lord preserves a remnant, echoing His pattern with Noah (Genesis 6:8) and Elijah’s 7,000 (1 Kings 19:18). and fled into the wilderness • The wilderness has often served as a place of refuge: Moses (Exodus 2:15), David (1 Samuel 23:14), Elijah (1 Kings 19:3–4). • Physically, it offers isolation and natural defenses; spiritually, it pictures the Lord’s protective hand (Psalm 63:1, Psalm 55:6–8). • Their flight fulfills the divine warning that sin brings severe consequences yet stops short of total destruction (Deuteronomy 28:62–63). to the rock of Rimmon • This rocky stronghold lies about 13 miles northeast of Gibeah, a natural fortress much like En Gedi’s cliffs (1 Samuel 24:1–2). • God often uses rocks to symbolize safety: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress” (Psalm 18:2). • Ironically, Saul—Benjamin’s future king—will later fight Philistines near a place also called Rimmon (1 Samuel 14:2), showing how God can redeem a shattered tribe. where they stayed four months • Four months allowed tempers to cool and Israel to recognize the peril of erasing a whole tribe (Judges 21:1–3). • During this time the community repents and seeks a way to provide wives for the survivors (Judges 21:13–15). • The pause illustrates Proverbs 19:2—zeal without knowledge is perilous—yet also Romans 11:29, for God’s gifts and calling to His people are irrevocable. summary Judges 20:47 records the survival of 600 Benjamite men who escape annihilation by retreating to the rock of Rimmon for four months. Their preservation demonstrates God’s justice against unchecked sin while showcasing His mercy in sparing a remnant, ensuring the continuity of Benjamin and the unfolding of His covenant purposes. (47) In the rock Rimmon.--This may be quite literally taken, for there are four large caverns in the hill.Verse 47. - But six hundred men turned. If these 600 survivors are added to the 25,000, or 25,100, enumerated as slain (vers. '35, 44), it gives a total of 25,700. But the total number of Benjamites, as given in ver. 15, was 26,700. There remain, therefore, 1000 men unaccounted for. These may, have been killed partly in the two first days successful battles (vers. 21, 25), and partly in the different cities into which they had escaped, when the general massacre recorded in ver. 48 took place. The rock Rimmon. There are two proposed identifications of this place. One makes it the same as Rummon, "a village perched on the summit of a conical chalky hill," "rising on the south side to a height of several hundred feet from the Wady Muti-yah," and defended on the west side "by a cross valley of great depth," which lies three miles east of Bethel, and seven miles northeast of Gibeah (Tulell el-Ful), and is situated in the wilderness between the highlands of Benjamin and the Jordan. This is advocated by Robinson ('Biblical Researches,' 1:440), by Mr. Grove in the 'Dictionary of the Bible,' and by Lt. Conder ('Quart. State. for July 1880,' P. 173). The other is advocated by Mr. W. F. Birch ('Pal. Expl., Quart. State. for April 1880'). This identifies it with the Wady er-Rummon, discovered by Mr. Rawnsley, where there is a vast cave, Mugharet el Jai, about a mile and a half from Geba, capable, according to the local tradition, of holding 600 men, and used to the present day by the villagers as a place of refuge from the government persecutions According to this view, the statement that they abode in the rock Rimmon is strictly correct.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But sixשֵׁ֥שׁ (šêš) Number - feminine singular Strong's 8337: Six (a cardinal number) hundred מֵא֖וֹת (mê·’ō·wṯ) Number - feminine plural Strong's 3967: A hundred men אִ֑ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person turned וַיִּפְנ֞וּ (way·yip̄·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look and fled וַיָּנֻ֤סוּ (way·yā·nu·sū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away into the wilderness הַמִּדְבָּ֙רָה֙ (ham·miḏ·bā·rāh) Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the rock סֶ֣לַע (se·la‘) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 5553: A craggy rock of Rimmon, הָֽרִמּ֔וֹן (hā·rim·mō·wn) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 7417: A Syrian god where they stayed וַיֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ (way·yê·šə·ḇū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry four אַרְבָּעָ֖ה (’ar·bā·‘āh) Number - masculine singular Strong's 702: Four months. חֳדָשִֽׁים׃ (ḥo·ḏā·šîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month Links Judges 20:47 NIVJudges 20:47 NLT Judges 20:47 ESV Judges 20:47 NASB Judges 20:47 KJV Judges 20:47 BibleApps.com Judges 20:47 Biblia Paralela Judges 20:47 Chinese Bible Judges 20:47 French Bible Judges 20:47 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 20:47 But six hundred men turned and fled (Jd Judg. 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