Judges 20:12

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And the tribes {H7626} of Israel {H3478} sent {H7971} men {H582} through all the tribe {H7626} of Benjamin {H1144}, saying {H559}, What wickedness {H7451} is this that is done {H1961} among you?

Complete Jewish Bible

The tribes of Isra'el sent men throughout all the tribe of Binyamin with this message: "What is this crime committed by some of your people?

Berean Standard Bible

And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you?

American Standard Version

And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is come to pass among you?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 20:12 records the unified tribes of Israel's formal demand for accountability from the tribe of Benjamin concerning the heinous crime committed in Gibeah. This pivotal moment, following the horrific abuse and murder of the Levite's concubine, represents an initial, albeit failed, attempt at peaceful resolution before the nation plunged into a devastating civil war, highlighting the profound moral outrage and the urgent need for justice within Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the shocking and graphic account in [Judges 19](/judges/19 "Judges 19 - The Levite and His Concubine"), where a Levite's concubine is brutally gang-raped and murdered in Gibeah, a city belonging to the tribe of Benjamin. The Levite's subsequent dismemberment of her body and distribution of the twelve pieces to each tribe served as a visceral, unprecedented call for national action, igniting widespread indignation. [Judges 20:1-11](/judges/20-1 "Judges 20:1-11 - Israel Assembles at Mizpah") describes the assembly of all Israel (except Benjamin) at Mizpah, where they commit to a unified response. Judges 20:12 then details their first official step: a direct inquiry to Benjamin, seeking an explanation and the surrender of the perpetrators, thus setting the stage for the ensuing civil conflict.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges was marked by a lack of central authority, famously summarized by the refrain, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" ([Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - No King in Israel")). This moral and political vacuum allowed for such atrocities as the one in Gibeah to occur. The concept of corporate responsibility was deeply ingrained in Israelite society, meaning that the sin of individuals within a community could bring guilt and judgment upon the entire group if not addressed (cf. [Joshua 7](/joshua/7 "Joshua 7 - Achan's Sin and Its Consequences")). The other tribes' demand for accountability from Benjamin reflects this understanding: the wickedness committed in Gibeah was not merely a local crime but a defilement of the entire covenant community, requiring communal action to purge the evil from their midst.
* **Key Themes:** Judges 20:12 encapsulates several crucial themes. Firstly, **Accountability and Justice** are paramount, as the assembled tribes seek to hold Benjamin responsible for the egregious violation of divine and societal norms. Secondly, the passage underscores **Corporate Responsibility**, demonstrating the expectation that a tribe should deal with the wickedness committed within its borders to maintain communal purity. Thirdly, the phrase "What wickedness is this that is done among you?" conveys profound **Moral Outrage** at an act deemed an abomination against God's law and the very fabric of Israelite identity. Lastly, the act of "sending men" indicates an initial **Attempt at Peaceful Resolution**, offering Benjamin an opportunity to willingly surrender the perpetrators and avoid further conflict, highlighting a desire for internal purification over immediate warfare.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wickedness (Hebrew, _nᵉvālâ'_):** This term, often translated as "folly," "disgrace," or "outrage," signifies an act of profound moral depravity, a scandalous and abhorrent deed that violates fundamental communal and divine laws. It describes actions that are not merely wrong but are utterly shameful and contemptuous of God and humanity. Its use here ([Deuteronomy 22:21](/deuteronomy/22-21 "Deuteronomy 22:21 - Punishment for Moral Outrage"), [Isaiah 32:6](/isaiah/32-6 "Isaiah 32:6 - The Fool's Wickedness")) underscores the extreme nature of the crime in Gibeah, which was an affront to Israel's covenant identity and provoked a national crisis.
* **Sent (Hebrew, _šālaḥ'_):** The verb "sent" implies a formal, official delegation rather than a casual inquiry. This was a deliberate, diplomatic overture from the unified tribes, indicating their desire to follow proper protocol and offer Benjamin an opportunity to rectify the situation internally before resorting to more drastic measures. It highlights the gravity of the situation and the structured approach taken by the other tribes.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying,"**: This clause emphasizes the unity and collective action of the other eleven tribes. The "sending of men" (envoys or delegates) signifies a formal, official inquiry, not a spontaneous mob. They traversed the entire territory of Benjamin, indicating a comprehensive and public demand for accountability, ensuring that the message reached the entire tribe, not just the city of Gibeah.
* **"What wickedness [is] this that is done among you?"**: This is a rhetorical question, expressing profound shock, indignation, and bewilderment. It's not a request for information about *what* happened (which they already knew from the Levite's testimony) but a demand for an explanation and accountability for *why* such an abomination was allowed to occur and persist within their midst. The phrase "among you" directly implicates the entire tribe of Benjamin, highlighting the concept of corporate responsibility for the sin committed within their jurisdiction.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "What wickedness is this that is done among you?" This question is not posed to elicit new information but to express the profound moral outrage and incredulity of the other tribes. It serves to condemn the act and demand accountability, emphasizing the gravity of the offense. There is also a strong element of **Foreshadowing**, as this direct inquiry, met with Benjamin's defiant refusal (as the narrative unfolds), inevitably leads to the devastating civil war. The collective action of "the tribes of Israel" against a single tribe also presents a form of **Synecdoche**, where the part (the inhabitants of Gibeah) is implicitly held to represent the whole (the tribe of Benjamin), underscoring the principle of corporate responsibility.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 20:12 profoundly illustrates the biblical principle that sin, especially grievous sin, is not merely a private matter but has communal implications. The "wickedness" in Gibeah was an affront to God's holiness and Israel's covenant identity, demanding a national response. This passage underscores God's demand for justice and purity within His people, demonstrating that unaddressed evil defiles the community and invites divine judgment. The other tribes' demand for Benjamin to "purge the evil" from their midst reflects the Mosaic law's repeated emphasis on removing sin to maintain covenant faithfulness and avoid corporate consequences.

* [Deuteronomy 13:5](/deuteronomy/13-5 "Purging Evil from Your Midst")
* [Joshua 7:1](/joshua/7 "Achan's Sin and Its Consequences")
* [1 Corinthians 5:1](/1_corinthians/5 "Dealing with Immorality in the Church")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 20:12 serves as a sobering reminder that unchecked sin, whether individual or corporate, inevitably leads to devastating consequences. For individuals, it calls us to self-examination, asking what "wickedness" might be festering in our own lives or within our immediate spheres of influence that needs to be confronted and confessed. For communities, especially the church, it highlights the critical need for internal accountability and the courage to address moral failings, even when uncomfortable. Ignoring or condoning sin out of a misplaced sense of loyalty or a desire for peace can ultimately lead to greater fragmentation and spiritual decay. True peace comes through righteousness and the courageous pursuit of justice, ensuring that our communities reflect God's holy character.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we, as individuals and communities, respond when "wickedness" is committed in our midst? Do we confront it, or do we ignore it?**
* **What is our responsibility to confront sin, both personally and corporately, rather than allowing it to fester and spread?**
* **In what ways might we be guilty of corporate responsibility for unaddressed sin within our communities or institutions?**

### FAQ
**Why did the other tribes hold the whole tribe of Benjamin accountable for the actions of a few men in Gibeah?**

Answer: The concept of corporate responsibility was foundational in ancient Israelite society. Sin committed by individuals within a community, especially heinous acts like the one in Gibeah, was seen as defiling the entire community and bringing collective guilt upon them if not addressed. The tribe of Benjamin, as a whole, was expected to deal with the perpetrators and purge the evil from their midst, as per Mosaic law. Their failure to do so, and their subsequent protection of the wicked men of Gibeah, made the entire tribe complicit in the "wickedness." This is similar to the story of Achan in [Joshua 7](/joshua/7 "Joshua 7 - Achan's Sin and Its Consequences"), where the sin of one man led to defeat and judgment for the entire nation until the sin was purged.

**What was the "wickedness" referred to in this verse?**

Answer: The "wickedness" (Hebrew: *nevalah*) refers to the horrific events detailed in [Judges 19](/judges/19 "Judges 19 - The Levite and His Concubine"). A Levite and his concubine were staying in Gibeah, a city of Benjamin. A group of wicked men from Gibeah demanded to rape the Levite, but instead, they brutally gang-raped and abused his concubine throughout the night, leading to her death. This act was an extreme violation of hospitality, sexual purity, and human dignity, an abomination that deeply offended God's law and the moral fabric of Israelite society. The Levite's subsequent dismemberment of her body and sending a piece to each tribe was a desperate, graphic appeal for justice against this unparalleled atrocity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 20:12, with its stark portrayal of human depravity and the desperate search for justice in a fallen world, powerfully points to the ultimate need for Christ. The "wickedness" committed in Gibeah is a microcosm of humanity's pervasive sinfulness, demonstrating that "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" leads to chaos and moral decay. The inability of Israel, even in its unified outrage, to perfectly purge evil from its midst through human means foreshadows the need for a perfect, divine intervention. Jesus Christ perfectly fulfills the roles of both the innocent victim and the righteous judge. He is the ultimate Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), bearing the full weight of humanity's "wickedness" on the cross, becoming sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Furthermore, as the true King and Judge, Christ alone has the authority and power to perfectly execute justice ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Has Entrusted All Judgment to the Son")) and establish a new community—the Church—which He purifies and presents to Himself "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless" ([Ephesians 5:27](/ephesians/5-27 "Ephesians 5:27 - Christ's Purpose for the Church")). Thus, the failed human attempt at justice in Judges 20:12 ultimately magnifies the perfect and redemptive justice found only in Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 13:14

Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, [if it be] truth, [and] the thing certain, [that] such abomination is wrought among you;

Romans 12:18

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Matthew 18:15

¶ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Matthew 18:18

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Deuteronomy 20:10

¶ When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

Joshua 22:13

And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,

Joshua 22:16

Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass [is] this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?