From start to finish, this battle is carried out with a determination and thoroughness and vigour that surpass anything found in Israel’s wars with the Canaanites or any other enemy in Judges. But it is not justice that Israel accomplishes. Justice demanded at most the execution of the worthless fellows of Gibeah, and the Benjamites who came out to fight for them. This here is actually genocide, where they spare neither human nor beast. The New Sodom was wiped off the face of the earth.
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.