Judges 20:19

KJV

And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} rose up {H6965} in the morning {H1242}, and encamped {H2583} against Gibeah {H1390}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So the army of Isra'el got up in the morning and set up their camp near Giv'ah.

Berean Standard Bible

The next morning the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah.

American Standard Version

And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 20:19 marks the decisive 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 refusal to surrender the perpetrators, this verse signals the commencement of a devastating civil war, underscoring the gravity of unaddressed sin and the collective resolve, however tragically misguided in its execution, to purge evil from their midst.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 20:19 immediately follows a series of events chronicling Israel's response to the heinous crime detailed in [Judges 19](/judges/19 "Judges 19 - The Levite and His Concubine"). The Levite's dismemberment of his concubine's body and distribution of the pieces throughout Israel served as a shocking indictment of the moral decay within the nation. [Judges 20:1-7](/judges/20-1 "Judges 20:1-7 - Israel's Assembly at Mizpah") describes the assembly of all Israel at Mizpah, their outrage, and the Levite's recounting of the atrocity. The tribes then unanimously resolved to confront Benjamin, demanding justice. Prior to this verse, [Judges 20:18](/judges/20-18 "Judges 20:18 - Israel Seeks God's Counsel") records Israel's initial consultation with God at Bethel, asking which tribe should lead the attack. Despite this divine guidance, Benjamin's stubborn refusal to hand over the wicked men of Gibeah, as depicted in [Judges 20:13](/judges/20-13 "Judges 20:13 - Benjamin's Refusal"), made military confrontation inevitable. Verse 19, therefore, signifies the actual mobilization of the Israelite forces, abandoning further negotiation for direct engagement.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges, characterized by the recurring phrase "[every man did what was right in his own eyes](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - No King in Israel")," was marked by moral anarchy and a lack of central authority. This incident highlights the breakdown of societal norms and the severe consequences of unaddressed sin within the covenant community. The crime in Gibeah, involving gang rape and murder, was an egregious violation of both Mosaic Law and the sacred cultural norm of hospitality, akin to the wickedness of Sodom ([Genesis 19](/genesis/19 "Genesis 19 - Sodom and Gomorrah")). The Israelite tribes, bound by their covenant with Yahweh, felt a collective responsibility to purge such evil from their midst, lest the entire nation incur divine judgment. Their encampment against Gibeah was not merely a punitive military action but an attempt to uphold the sanctity of their covenant and the purity of their land, reflecting a desperate, albeit flawed, effort to restore order and righteousness in a chaotic era.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within the book of Judges and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **consequences of moral decay** and unaddressed sin. The extreme depravity in Gibeah, allowed to fester, ultimately precipitates a devastating civil war, illustrating how unchecked wickedness can tear apart a community. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **communal responsibility for justice**. The other tribes of Israel, though imperfect in their execution, felt compelled to act against the evil within Benjamin, demonstrating a corporate understanding of their covenant obligations to maintain holiness. Lastly, it tragically showcases the **fragility of Israelite unity**. While the tribes initially unite against a common internal enemy, their subsequent actions reveal deep flaws in their discernment and reliance on God, leading to near annihilation of one of their own tribes and immense suffering, despite their initial righteous indignation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **rose up (Hebrew, _qûm_):** This verb signifies not merely standing or waking, but often implies "arising" with purpose, determination, and readiness for action. In a military context, it conveys promptness and a decisive move to initiate an engagement. The Israelites wasted no time; their early rising emphasizes their unified resolve and eagerness to confront the situation after their deliberations.
* **encamped (Hebrew, _ḥānâ_):** This term is a military technical word, meaning to pitch tents, to take up a position, or to lay siege. It indicates that the Israelites were not merely approaching Gibeah but were establishing a fortified position, preparing for sustained military operations or a direct assault. This word signals the formal commencement of hostilities and the strategic positioning of their forces.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the children of Israel rose up in the morning":** This phrase emphasizes the collective, unified action of the Israelite tribes. "Children of Israel" highlights their identity as God's covenant people, acting together. The detail "in the morning" conveys their promptness and determination, indicating that they were eager to execute their plan without delay after their previous day's consultations and preparations. It suggests a sense of urgency and resolve to confront the wickedness in Gibeah.
* **"and encamped against Gibeah":** This clause describes the specific military maneuver and the target. "Encamped against" signifies that the Israelite forces took up a strategic position surrounding or near Gibeah, preparing for battle or siege. Gibeah, the Benjaminite city where the atrocity occurred, is the direct object of their military action, underscoring that their confrontation was aimed at the source of the egregious sin. This marks the physical beginning of the devastating civil war.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its significance. **Foreshadowing** is evident in the prompt "rising up" and "encamping," which immediately signals the impending, brutal conflict that will unfold in the subsequent verses. The decisive action of the Israelites, while initially appearing righteous, tragically **foreshadows** the immense bloodshed and near annihilation of Benjamin. There is also a subtle **irony** in the phrase "the children of Israel," which typically denotes unity and shared purpose among God's people. Here, this unified body is about to engage in a devastating war against one of its own tribes, highlighting the tragic internal division caused by sin. Furthermore, Gibeah functions as a **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 struggle against wickedness within the nation.

### 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 community demands a response. The collective outrage of Israel reflects a lingering sense of covenant responsibility to purge evil from their midst, a concept deeply rooted in Mosaic Law (e.g., [Deuteronomy 13:5](/deuteronomy/13-5 "Deuteronomy 13:5 - Purging Evil from Israel")). 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 and mercy. 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 people.

* [Deuteronomy 13:5](/deuteronomy/13-5 "Deuteronomy 13:5 - Purging Evil from Your Midst")
* [1 Corinthians 5:13](/1_corinthians/5-13 "1 Corinthians 5:13 - Expelling the Wicked")
* [Leviticus 18:25](/leviticus/18-25 "Leviticus 18:25 - Land Defiled by Sin")

### 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 we 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 even the church. This verse challenges believers to cultivate spiritual discernment, recognizing that true justice aligns with God's righteous character and commands. It calls us to actively participate in addressing sin, not with vengeance or human passion, but with humility, repentance, and a 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.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the promptness of Israel's action in this verse challenge or affirm our own approach to confronting injustice and sin in our lives or communities?**
* **What are the potential dangers of a community, even one with righteous intentions, acting without full discernment or consistent reliance on God's wisdom?**
* **In what ways can we, as believers, "encamp against" moral decay and spiritual wickedness in our contemporary society, without resorting to physical conflict?**

### 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](/judges/19-22 "Judges 19:22 - Worthless Fellows of Gibeah")), and the other tribes of Israel demanded that Benjamin surrender these individuals for justice ([Judges 20:13](/judges/20-13 "Judges 20:13 - Israel's Demand to Benjamin")). However, the tribe of Benjamin refused to comply, choosing instead to defend the guilty men. This act of protecting the perpetrators made the entire tribe complicit in the crime and the subsequent refusal of justice. Consequently, the other tribes of Israel viewed Benjamin's actions as a corporate affront to the covenant and a defense of profound wickedness, 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 and seeking divine counsel the previous day ([Judges 20:18](/judges/20-18 "Judges 20:18 - Israel Seeks God's Counsel")), 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.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 20:19, depicting Israel's collective mobilization against profound evil, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Israel's attempt to purge sin through physical warfare ultimately led to tragic internal conflict, Christ is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), confronting evil not with a sword, but with His perfect sacrifice. The "worthless fellows" of Gibeah represent the depth of human depravity that infects all humanity ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned")), 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](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without Shedding of Blood")). The New Testament church, 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](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Spiritual Warfare")), living out the righteousness of Christ and proclaiming His victory over sin and death ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph")).

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

Joshua 3:1

¶ And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

Joshua 6:12

And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.

Joshua 7:16

¶ So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: