The smoke signal

38The appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambush was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city.

39Then the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike down the slain among the men of Israel, about thirty men, for they said, “Surely he is utterly defeated before us, as in the first battle.”

40But the signal began to rise from the city as a pillar of smoke, and Benjamin turned behind him, and behold, the whole city was going up to the heavens.

41Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were terrified, because they saw that disaster had come upon them.

42So they turned before the men of Israel toward the way of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them; and those from the cities were destroying them in their midst.

43They surrounded Benjamin, pursued him relentlessly, and trampled him down as far as opposite Gibeah, toward the east of the sun.