Judges 20:17

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

The army of Isra'el, apart from Binyamin, numbered 400,000 men with swords; they were all experienced soldiers.

Berean Standard Bible:

The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mobilized 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior.

American Standard Version:

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

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the men^{H376} of Israel^{H3478}, beside Benjamin^{H1144}, were numbered^{H6485} four^{H702} hundred^{H3967} thousand^{H505} men^{H376} that drew^{H8025} sword^{H2719}: all these were men^{H376} of war^{H4421}.

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Commentary for Judges 20:17

Judges 20:17 is part of the narrative found in Judges 19-21, which describes a period of moral and social chaos in Israel, often referred to as the time when "there was no king in Israel, and every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). The verse specifically states that the Israelite troops, excluding the tribe of Benjamin, numbered 400,000 men who were capable of wielding a sword, indicating that they were prepared for war.

This verse comes at a critical juncture in the story where the other tribes of Israel have gathered to confront the tribe of Benjamin over the rape and murder of a Levite's concubine in Gibeah, a city under Benjamin's control (Judges 19). The heinous crime had led to a demand for justice, which the Benjamites refused to deliver, resulting in a civil war. The large number of soldiers highlights the gravity of the situation and the widespread mobilization of the Israelite tribes against what they perceived as a great moral transgression.

The historical context of this verse reflects the tumultuous and often violent times of the judges, when central authority was weak or nonexistent, and tribes or local leaders often settled disputes through force. The theme of the passage is one of deep societal division, the failure of internal mechanisms for justice and peace, and the tragic consequences of sin and disunity among the people of Israel. This episode also foreshadows the later establishment of a monarchy in Israel, as the book of Judges repeatedly illustrates the need for stronger, centralized leadership to maintain order and uphold justice.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1144
   There are 156 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בִּנְיָמִין
   Transliteration: Binyâmîyn
   Pronunciation: bin-yaw-mene'
   Description: from בֵּן and יָמִין; son of (the) right hand; Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; Benjamin.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6485
   There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּקַד
   Transliteration: pâqad
   Pronunciation: paw-kad'
   Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want.
   
5. Strong's Number: H702
   There are 383 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַרְבַּע
   Transliteration: ʼarbaʻ
   Pronunciation: ar-bah'
   Description: masculine אַרְבָּעָה; from רָבַע; four; four.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3967
   There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֵאָה
   Transliteration: mêʼâh
   Pronunciation: may-aw'
   Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore.
   
7. Strong's Number: H505
   There are 496 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶלֶף
   Transliteration: ʼeleph
   Pronunciation: eh'-lef
   Description: prop, the same as אֶלֶף; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand; thousand.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8025
   There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלַף
   Transliteration: shâlaph
   Pronunciation: saw-laf'
   Description: a primitive root; to pull out, up or off; draw (off), grow up, pluck off.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2719
   There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֶרֶב
   Transliteration: chereb
   Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
   Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.
   
10. Strong's Number: H4421
    There are 308 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִלְחָמָה
    Transliteration: milchâmâh
    Pronunciation: mil-khaw-maw'
    Description: from לָחַם (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare); battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior).