TRV
Translation
King James Version
And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
Complete Jewish Bible
So the army of Isra'el got up in the morning and set up their camp near Giv'ah.
American Standard Version
And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
World English Bible Messianic
The children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Israel rise in the morning, and encamp against Gibeah,
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In the KJVVerse 7,074 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Judges 20 verses 18–25
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.
We have here the defeat of the men of Israel in their first and second battle with the Benjamites.
I. Before their first engagement they asked counsel of God concerning the order of their battle and were directed, and yet they were sorely beaten. They did not think it was proper to ask of God whether they should go up at all against Benjamin (the case was plain enough, the men of Gibeah must be punished for their wickedness, and Israel must inflict the punishment or it will not be done), but "Who shall go first?" (Jdg 20:18), that is, "Who shall be general of our army?" for, which soever tribe was appointed to go first, the prince of that tribe must be looked upon as commander-in-chief of the whole body. For, if they had meant it of the order of their march only, it would have been proper to ask, "Who shall go next?" and then, "Who next?" But, if they know that Judah must go first, they know they must all observe the orders of the prince of that tribe. This honour was done to Judah because our Lord Jesus was to spring from that tribe, who was in all things to have the pre-eminence. The tribe that went up first had the most honourable post, but withal the most dangerous, and probably lost most in the engagement. Who would strive for precedency that sees the peril of it? Yet though Judah, that strong and valiant tribe, goes up first, and all the tribes of Israel attend them, little Benjamin (so he is called, Psa 68:27), is too hard for them all. The whole army lays siege to Gibeah, Jdg 20:19. The Benjamites advance to raise the siege, and the army prepares to give them a warm reception (Jdg 20:20). But between the Benjamites that attacked them in the front with incredible fury, and the men of Gibeah that sallied out upon their rear, they were put into confusion and lost 22,000 men, Jdg 20:21. Here were no prisoners taken, for there was no quarter given, but all put to the sword.
II. Before their second engagement they again asked counsel of God, and more solemnly than before; for they wept before the Lord until evening (Jdg 20:23), lamenting the loss of so many brave men, especially as it was a token of God's displeasure and would give occasion to the Benjamites to triumph in the success of their wickedness. Also at this time they did not ask who should go up first, but whether they should go up at all. The intimate a reason why they should scruple to do it, especially now that Providence had frowned upon them, because Benjamin was their brother, and a readiness to lay down their arms if God should so order them. God bade them go up; he allowed the attempt, for, though Benjamin was their brother, he was a gangrened member of their body and must be cut off. Upon this they encouraged themselves, perhaps more in their own strength than in the divine commission, and made a second attempt upon the forces of the rebels, in the same place where the former battle was fought (Jdg 20:22), with the hope of retrieving their credit upon the same spot of ground where they had lost it, which they would not superstitiously change, as if there were any thing unlucky in the place. But they were this second time repulsed, with the loss of 18,000 men, Jdg 20:25. The former day's loss and this amounted to 40,000, which was just a tenth part of the whole army, and the same number that they had drawn out by lot to fetch victuals, Jdg 20:10. They decimated themselves for that service, and now God again decimated them for the slaughter. But what shall we say to these things, that so just and honourable a cause should thus be put to the worst once and again? Were they not fighting God's battle against sin? Had they not his commission? What, and yet miscarry thus! 1. God's judgments are a great deep, and his way is in the sea. Clouds and darkness are often round about him, but judgment and justice are always the habitation of his throne. We may be sure of the righteousness, when we cannot see the reasons, of God's proceedings. 2. God would hereby show them, and us in them, that the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, that we are not to confide in numbers, which perhaps the Israelites did with too much assurance. We must never lay the weight on an arm of flesh, which only the Rock of ages will bear. 3. God designed hereby to correct Israel for their sins. They did well to show such a zeal against the wickedness of Gibeah: but were there not with them, even with them, sins against the Lord their God? Those must be made to know their own iniquity that are forward in condemning the iniquity of others. Some think it was a rebuke to them for not witnessing against the idolatry of Micah and the Danites, by which their religion was corrupted, as they now did against the lewdness of Gibeah and the Benjamites, by which the public peace was disturbed, though God had particularly ordered them to levy war upon idolaters, Deu 13:12, etc. 4. God would hereby teach us not to think it strange if a good cause should suffer defeat fore a while, nor to judge of the merits of it by the success of it. The interest of grace in the heart, and of religion in the world, may be foiled, and suffer great loss, and seem to be quite run down, but judgment will be brought forth to victory at last. Vincimur in praelio, sed non in bello - We are foiled in a battle, but not in the whole campaign. Right may fall, but it shall arise.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 18–25. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Judges 20:19 marks a pivotal and tragic turning point in the Israelite civil war, signaling the moment when the united tribes of Israel transitioned from deliberation and seeking divine counsel to direct military action against the tribe of Benjamin, specifically targeting the city of Gibeah. Following the horrific atrocity committed there and Benjamin's defiant refusal to surrender the perpetrators, this verse formally commences a devastating internal conflict, underscoring the profound consequences of unaddressed sin and the collective, albeit tragically flawed, resolve to purge egregious evil from their midst.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its profound significance within the unfolding narrative. Foreshadowing is powerfully evident in the swift and decisive action of "rising up" and "encamping," which immediately signals the impending, brutal conflict that will unfold in the subsequent verses. This seemingly righteous and unified action tragically foreshadows the immense bloodshed and near annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin, highlighting the devastating consequences of internal strife. There is also a subtle but potent irony in the phrase "the children of Israel," which typically denotes unity, shared heritage, and a common purpose among God's people. Here, this unified body is about to engage in a devastating war against one of its own tribes, tragically highlighting the profound internal division and moral decay caused by sin. Furthermore, Gibeah functions as a potent symbol of profound moral corruption and the depths of depravity into which Israel had fallen during the period of the Judges, making its targeting symbolic of the larger, desperate struggle against wickedness within the nation itself.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 20:19, while describing a specific military action, carries profound theological weight. It illustrates the principle that unaddressed, egregious sin within a covenant community demands a decisive response. The collective outrage of Israel reflects a lingering, albeit imperfect, sense of covenant responsibility to purge evil from their midst, a concept deeply rooted in Mosaic Law (e.g., Deuteronomy 13:5 and Deuteronomy 19:19). While their initial intent was righteous—to bring justice for an abominable crime—the subsequent narrative reveals the tragic human cost when such justice is pursued without full reliance on divine wisdom, mercy, and consistent obedience. This verse highlights the tension between the necessity of confronting evil and the potential for human vengeance or flawed execution to lead to further devastation, even within God's own people, underscoring the deep spiritual sickness that plagued Israel during this era.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 20:19 serves as a stark reminder of the corrosive power of unaddressed sin and the communal responsibility to confront injustice. While believers today do not engage in physical warfare to purge evil, the spiritual principle remains: moral decay, if left unchecked, can lead to devastating consequences within families, communities, and particularly within the church. This verse challenges believers to cultivate spiritual discernment, recognizing that true justice aligns with God's righteous character and commands, and that our methods must reflect His holiness and love. It calls us to actively participate in addressing sin, not with vengeance or human passion, but with humility, repentance, and a steadfast commitment to biblical truth and holiness. It underscores the importance of a community that is willing to hold its members accountable, to lament wickedness, and to seek restoration, always striving to ensure that our pursuit of righteousness is guided by the Holy Spirit and rooted in Christ's love, rather than self-righteous anger or flawed human judgment. We are called to be vigilant against the subtle creep of sin and to act decisively, yet compassionately, in upholding God's standards.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did all the tribes of Israel unite against Benjamin, rather than just punishing the specific perpetrators in Gibeah?
Answer: The text indicates that the men of Gibeah were "worthless fellows" (Judges 19:22), and the other tribes of Israel initially demanded that Benjamin surrender these individuals for justice (Judges 20:13). However, the tribe of Benjamin defiantly refused to comply, choosing instead to protect the guilty men and prepare for war. This act of corporate complicity—defending the perpetrators of an abominable crime—made the entire tribe responsible in the eyes of the other Israelites. Consequently, the other tribes viewed Benjamin's actions as a profound affront to the covenant, a defense of egregious wickedness, and a threat to the moral purity of the entire nation, necessitating a collective response against the entire tribe to purge the evil from their midst.
What is the significance of "rising up in the morning" in this context?
Answer: The phrase "rose up in the morning" (Hebrew: wayyaqûmû babbōqer) emphasizes the promptness, determination, and urgency of the Israelite forces. It suggests that after their deliberations, the Levite's testimony, and seeking divine counsel the previous day (Judges 20:18), they wasted no time in executing their plan. This detail conveys their unified resolve and readiness for battle, signaling that they were committed to immediate action against Gibeah and the tribe of Benjamin. It highlights their earnestness and the gravity with which they approached the situation, despite the tragic outcome.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 20:19, depicting Israel's collective mobilization against profound evil and internal corruption, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While Israel's attempt to purge sin through physical warfare tragically led to immense bloodshed and internal conflict, Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, confronting evil not with a sword, but with His perfect, atoning sacrifice. The "worthless fellows" of Gibeah represent the depth of human depravity that infects all humanity (Romans 3:23), and unlike Benjamin's stubborn defense of the guilty, God, in Christ, offers a way for sinners to be delivered from judgment through repentance and faith. Jesus, as the true Judge and King, perfectly executes divine justice and mercy, cleansing His people not through a bloody civil war, but through His own shed blood on the cross (Hebrews 9:22). The New Testament church, as the new Israel, is called to be a holy people, confronting spiritual wickedness not through physical encampment, but through spiritual warfare against the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12), living out the righteousness of Christ and proclaiming His decisive victory over sin and death (Colossians 2:15).