The Israelite army turned back to Benjamin, and carried out a war of total annihilation against the remaining occupants; they slaughter everyone, man, woman, child, even beast. And all the towns they could find they set on fire. In just a few days, the tribe of Benjamin was almost completely destroyed. This is the mopping-up operation after the war.
48 And the men of Israel turned back against the people of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, the city, men and beasts and all that they found. And all the towns that they found they set on fire.