Judges 20:1

ยถ 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.

Then all the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} went out {H3318}, and the congregation {H5712} was gathered together {H6950} as one {H259} man {H376}, from Dan {H1835} even to Beersheba {H884}, with the land {H776} of Gilead {H1568}, unto the LORD {H3068} in Mizpeh {H4709}.

All the people of Isra'el came out, from Dan to Be'er-sheva, including Gil'ad; the community assembled with one accord before ADONAI at Mitzpah.

Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.

Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah at Mizpah.

Commentary

Judges 20:1 marks a pivotal moment in the Book of Judges, detailing the immediate national response to the horrific crime recounted in the previous chapter. This verse sets the stage for one of the most devastating civil conflicts in Israel's history.

Context

This verse immediately follows the shocking narrative of the Levite and his concubine in Judges 19, where a heinous act of violence and sexual abuse was committed against the concubine by the men of Gibeah, a city in the tribe of Benjamin. The Levite's gruesome act of dismembering his concubine's body and sending a piece to each tribe of Israel served as a stark and urgent call for justice. Prior to this, the Book of Judges often highlights Israel's moral decay and disunity, captured by the recurring phrase, "every man did that which was right in his own eyes." However, in this instance, the atrocity was so profound that it provoked an unprecedented national mobilization.

Key Themes

  • National Unity and Outrage: The phrase "all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man" underscores a rare moment of solidarity among the tribes. This unity, stretching "from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead," signifies a comprehensive national mobilization. The phrase "from Dan even to Beersheba" is a well-known biblical idiom representing the entire geographical expanse of Israel, from its northernmost point to its southernmost, including the tribes east of the Jordan River.
  • Seeking Justice and Divine Counsel: The assembly "unto the LORD in Mizpeh" indicates that this was not merely a political or military gathering, but a solemn convocation seeking divine guidance and justice for the moral outrage committed. Mizpeh (meaning "watchtower") was a significant gathering place, often associated with national assemblies and appeals to God, as seen in other biblical accounts.
  • Response to Moral Transgression: The verse highlights the seriousness with which the other tribes viewed the Benjaminite's sin. It was an offense not just against individuals, but against the very moral fabric of Israelite society and the covenant with God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "as one man" is k'ish echad (ื›ึฐึผืึดื™ืฉื ืึถื—ึธื“), which powerfully conveys a sense of complete unanimity, singular purpose, and collective resolve. It emphasizes that despite tribal distinctions and past disunity, the nation acted with one mind and one will in response to the great evil committed in Gibeah.

Practical Application

Judges 20:1 reminds us of the power of collective action when confronted with grave injustice. While the subsequent events in Judges 20 and 21 reveal the tragic consequences of human fallibility even in the pursuit of justice, this initial gathering demonstrates the importance of unity in addressing societal evils. It underscores that certain moral transgressions demand a unified response, appealing to a higher standard of righteousness. For believers today, it serves as a call to stand together against injustice and moral decay, seeking God's will and guidance in addressing the challenges of our time, just as the Israelites gathered "unto the LORD in Mizpeh."

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 11:11 (5 votes)

    Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

  • Joshua 22:12 (4 votes)

    And when the children of Israel heard [of it], the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.

  • 1 Samuel 10:17 (4 votes)

    ยถ And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;

  • 1 Samuel 3:20 (4 votes)

    And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel [was] established [to be] a prophet of the LORD.

  • Judges 21:5 (4 votes)

    And the children of Israel said, Who [is there] among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.

  • 2 Samuel 3:10 (4 votes)

    To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

  • Nehemiah 8:1 (3 votes)

    ยถ And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that [was] before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.