Judges 20

King James Version

Full text for Judges Chapter 20

1¶ Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

2And the chief of all the people, [even] of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

3(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell [us], how was this wickedness?

4And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that [belongeth] to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

5And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, [and] thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.

6And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

7Behold, ye [are] all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.

8And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any [of us] go to his tent, neither will we any [of us] turn into his house.

9But now this [shall be] the thing which we will do to Gibeah; [we will go up] by lot against it;

10And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.

11So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

12¶ And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness [is] this that is done among you?

13Now therefore deliver [us] the men, the children of Belial, which [are] in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:

14But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

15And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

16Among all this people [there were] seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair [breadth], and not miss.

17And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these [were] men of war.

18¶ And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah [shall go up] first.

19And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

20And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.

21And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

22And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.

23(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)

24And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

25And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

26¶ Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

27And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God [was] there in those days,

28And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

29And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.

30And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.

31And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, [and] were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, [and] kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

32And the children of Benjamin said, They [are] smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.

33And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, [even] out of the meadows of Gibeah.

34And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil [was] near them.

35And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.

36So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.

37And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew [themselves] along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

38Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.

39And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite [and] kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as [in] the first battle.

40But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.

41And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.

42Therefore they turned [their backs] before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which [came] out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.

43[Thus] they inclosed the Benjamites round about, [and] chased them, [and] trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.

44And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valour.

45And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.

46So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valour.

47But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.

48And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of [every] city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

All Israel gathers at Mizpeh, demanding justice for the heinous crime committed in Gibeah of Benjamin. When Benjamin refuses to surrender the culprits, a civil war erupts. After two initial defeats, Israel seeks the LORD's counsel, who promises victory on the third day. Israel then employs an ambush, decisively defeating Benjamin and inflicting heavy casualties, nearly annihilating the tribe.

Medium Summary

Following the Levite's horrific account of his concubine's death in Gibeah, all the tribes of Israel assemble at Mizpeh, resolving to punish the wickedness. They demand that the tribe of Benjamin surrender the offenders, but Benjamin defiantly refuses, instead gathering its forces for war against the other tribes. Despite their overwhelming numerical superiority, Israel suffers two devastating defeats at the hands of Benjamin, losing 22,000 and then 18,000 men. Deeply humbled, Israel returns to the house of God, weeping, fasting, and offering sacrifices, seeking the LORD's guidance through Phinehas. The LORD assures them of victory on the third day. Israel then employs a strategic ambush around Gibeah, feigning retreat to draw Benjamin out. The ambush springs, and the LORD smites Benjamin, leading to a decisive Israelite victory. The Benjamites are routed and pursued, with 25,100 slain, while only 600 escape to the rock Rimmon. Israel then utterly destroys the remaining cities and inhabitants of Benjamin.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with all the children of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, gathering as one man at Mizpeh before the LORD, incensed by the atrocity committed in Gibeah of Benjamin. The Levite, whose concubine was violated and slain, recounts the heinous act of the men of Gibeah, prompting the congregation to vow vengeance. Israel resolves not to return home until they have dealt with Gibeah, and they send messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, demanding the surrender of the "children of Belial." However, Benjamin defiantly refuses to hand over the culprits, instead gathering its own forces, numbering twenty-six thousand men, plus seven hundred chosen men from Gibeah, including seven hundred skilled left-handed slingers. The rest of Israel numbers four hundred thousand men of war. Before engaging, Israel consults the LORD at the house of God, asking which tribe should lead the attack, and the LORD designates Judah. Despite divine counsel, Israel suffers a crushing defeat on the first day, losing twenty-two thousand men to the Benjamites. Undeterred, Israel encourages themselves and arrays for battle again, but after weeping before the LORD, they are again defeated on the second day, losing eighteen thousand more men. Humbled by these significant losses, all Israel returns to the house of God, weeping, fasting, and offering burnt and peace offerings, inquiring of the LORD once more through Phinehas. The LORD then promises to deliver Benjamin into their hand on the third day. Following this assurance, Israel strategically sets an ambush around Gibeah. On the third day, Israel feigns a retreat, drawing the Benjamites out of the city and into the highways. As Benjamin pursues, believing they are again victorious, the ambush springs from its hiding places. The LORD smites Benjamin before Israel, and the main Israelite force turns to engage. The ambushers seize Gibeah and set it ablaze, signaling the main army. The Benjamites, seeing their city burning and realizing their predicament, are amazed and turn to flee towards the wilderness. Israel pursues them relentlessly, slaying twenty-five thousand and one hundred men that day, with only six hundred escaping to the rock Rimmon. Subsequently, the men of Israel return and utterly destroy all remaining Benjamite cities, their inhabitants, and their livestock, setting the cities on fire.

Core Concepts

  • Corporate ResponsibilityThe entire tribe of Benjamin is held accountable for the wickedness of a few men in Gibeah, as the other tribes demand the surrender of the culprits, viewing the sin as a stain on all Israel.
  • Divine ConsultationThe children of Israel repeatedly seek counsel from the LORD through the High Priest and the ark of the covenant before and during the war. This highlights their reliance on God's direction, even when initial outcomes are unfavorable.
  • Military Strategy and DeceptionAfter two direct assaults fail, Israel employs a sophisticated ambush and feigned retreat to draw the Benjamites out of their fortified city. This demonstrates a strategic shift from brute force to cunning tactics.
  • Consequences of SinThe chapter vividly portrays the devastating consequences of the 'lewdness and folly' committed in Gibeah, leading to a civil war that nearly annihilates the tribe of Benjamin. The severity of the punishment reflects the gravity of the sin in Israel.
  • Perseverance in PrayerDespite two initial defeats and heavy losses, Israel does not abandon their cause but persists in weeping, fasting, and offering sacrifices before the LORD. Their continued supplication ultimately leads to the promise of victory.
  • Near Annihilation of BenjaminThe conflict results in the near destruction of the tribe of Benjamin, with only 600 men surviving the initial slaughter and subsequent pursuit. This catastrophic outcome underscores the extreme nature of the judgment.