Judges20

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.
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Israel Gathers and Hears the Complaint

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. ​
2
And 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? ​
4
And 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.
5
And 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.
6
And 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. ​
7
Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.
8
And 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.
9
But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;
10
And 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.
11
So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

Benjamin Refuses Justice

12
And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you? ​
13
Now 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:
14
But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. ​
15
And 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.
16
Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss. ​
17
And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.

The First Two Defeats

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. ​
19
And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
20
And 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.
21
And 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. ​
22
And 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.) ​
24
And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.
25
And 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.

Israel Seeks God's Counsel Again

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. ​
27
And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, ​
28
And 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. ​

The Third Battle and Victory

29
And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah. ​
30
And 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.
31
And 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.
32
And 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.
33
And 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.
34
And 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.
35
And 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. ​
36
So 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.
37
And 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.
38
Now 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.
39
And 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.
40
But 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.
41
And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.
42
Therefore 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.
44
And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.
45
And 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. ​
46
So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.

The Remnant and Retaliation

47
But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. ​
48
And 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. ​

Study Notes for Judges 20

Verse 1

Mizpeh was a significant religious and tribal gathering place. The unity described, 'as one man,' emphasizes the gravity of the crime against the covenant community, necessitating a unified response.

Verse 2

The assembly included 400,000 footmen, a massive army. This mobilization highlights the seriousness with which the tribes viewed the breach of justice and covenant law committed in Gibeah.

Verse 3

The question 'how was this wickedness?' indicates that while they knew *of* the atrocity (from the severed pieces sent by the Levite), they needed the direct testimony and details before deciding on military action.

Verse 6

The Levite’s shocking act of dismemberment, though horrifying, successfully communicated the extreme nature of the crime—a covenant violation equivalent to national sacrilege ('lewdness and folly').

Verse 12

Israel followed proper convention by first attempting negotiation, demanding the surrender of the perpetrators (the 'children of Belial') before resorting to war against a brother tribe.

Verse 14

Benjamin’s refusal to surrender the criminals and their decision to mobilize for war demonstrates a profound failure of covenant responsibility, prioritizing tribal pride and protective loyalty over divine justice.

Verse 16

The 700 chosen men of Gibeah, known for their left-handed slinging accuracy, are specifically mentioned. This detail foreshadows the difficulty Israel will face and emphasizes the martial skill of the Benjamite forces.

Verse 18

The tribes correctly sought divine counsel at Bethel (the 'house of God') before engaging in battle. God’s command for Judah to go up first echoes the pattern of the conquest narratives (Judges 1:1).

Verse 21

The severe loss (22,000 men) despite God's initial authorization shows that obedience to the command does not guarantee immediate success. The defeats may be a test of Israel’s resolve or a chastisement for their own spiritual failures.

Verse 23

Israel wept and renewed their inquiry, showing perseverance and humility after their initial shock. God reiterates the command to fight, confirming the war’s legitimacy despite the high cost.

Verse 26

The third inquiry is marked by deeper repentance: weeping, fasting, and offering sacrifices. This change in posture suggests they realized the defeats were not just military setbacks but divine discipline.

Verse 27

The presence of the Ark of the Covenant confirms that the 'house of God' (Bethel) was serving as the central sanctuary at this time, lending authoritative weight to the divine consultation.

Verse 28

Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, serving as high priest, connects this late period of the Judges directly back to the Exodus generation. God promises victory, indicating the period of divine testing is over.

Verse 29

Having received divine assurance, Israel now employs military strategy (setting ambushes), combining faith in God's promise with prudent tactics for the third engagement.

Verse 35

The text explicitly attributes the definitive turning point to divine intervention: 'the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel.' This confirms the ultimate victory was God's judgment against Benjamin's wickedness and pride.

Verse 45

The pursuit was relentless. The Rock of Rimmon became the final refuge for the few survivors, setting up the conflict resolution and the dilemma of preserving the tribe in the next chapter.

Verse 47

The survival of 600 men ensures the continuity of the tribe of Benjamin, preventing its total extinction. This small remnant is crucial for maintaining the twelve-tribe covenant structure of Israel.

Verse 48

The final act of scorched earth—destroying cities, people, and livestock—demonstrates the extreme grief, anger, and commitment to total purification that followed the initial military victory, leaving the land devastated.

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