TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then the army of Isra'el went out to attack Binyamin and set up their battle line in front of Giv'ah.
Berean Standard Bible
And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took up their battle positions at Gibeah.
American Standard Version
And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.
World English Bible Messianic
The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the men of Israel went out to battell against Beniamin, and the men of Israel put themselues in aray to fight against the beside Gibeah.
Young's Literal Translation
and the men of Israel go out to battle with Benjamin, and the men of Israel set themselves in array with them, for battle against Gibeah,
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In the KJVVerse 7,075 of 31,102
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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 20:20 grimly records the formal initiation of a devastating civil war within ancient Israel, depicting the moment the combined forces of the Israelite tribes meticulously arrayed themselves for battle against their brethren from the tribe of Benjamin. This verse encapsulates the tragic culmination of escalating moral decay and unaddressed sin, transforming a demand for justice into an internal conflict of unprecedented and catastrophic proportions, highlighting the profound consequences when God's people turn against one another.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Judges 20:20 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its somber message. Irony is profoundly present, as the "men of Israel," God's chosen people, are found "going out to battle against Benjamin," another tribe of Israel. This internal conflict stands in stark contrast to the ideal of a unified nation called to fight external enemies, not each other. The repetition of "the men of Israel" serves as a form of anaphora, emphasizing the collective resolve and tragic unity of the eleven tribes against one of their own, underscoring the magnitude of the division. Furthermore, the setting "at Gibeah" functions as potent symbolism. Gibeah is not just a geographical location; it is the site of the original atrocity, making it a symbolic ground where the consequences of sin are confronted with violent retribution. The verse also contains an element of foreshadowing, as the deliberate "arraying" of forces hints at the devastating and bloody conflict that is about to unfold, a conflict that will bring Israel to the brink of annihilating one of its own tribes.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 20:20 is a stark theological statement on the devastating consequences of sin, moral decay, and internal division within the covenant community. It illustrates how the breakdown of justice and righteousness, when left unaddressed or handled with human vengeance rather than divine wisdom, can lead to fratricidal conflict. The pursuit of justice, though initially righteous, becomes corrupted by the ensuing violence and near-annihilation of a tribe, raising questions about the means by which justice is sought and the heavy cost of human sin. This tragic episode serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the perils of a society where "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 20:20 serves as a profound and sobering reminder of the destructive power of internal conflict, whether in families, communities, or even the church. It challenges us to consider the origins of division – often rooted in unaddressed sin, a lack of accountability, or a distorted pursuit of justice. While righteous indignation against evil is necessary, this passage cautions against allowing such anger to escalate into destructive strife that harms the very fabric of the community. For believers today, it underscores the vital importance of pursuing unity in Christ, as commanded in Ephesians 4:3, and to seek peaceful, biblical resolutions to disputes, rather than allowing bitterness and division to take root. It calls us to examine our own hearts and communities for areas where sin might be festering, leading to disunity, and to proactively seek reconciliation and repentance before conflict becomes catastrophic.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did the other tribes of Israel go to war against Benjamin instead of just punishing the individuals responsible?
Answer: The refusal of the tribe of Benjamin to surrender the perpetrators of the heinous crime in Gibeah (Judges 19:22-25) was seen as an act of corporate complicity and defiance against the collective moral and legal standards of Israel. The other tribes viewed Benjamin's protection of the guilty as an endorsement of the evil, making the entire tribe culpable in their eyes. This was not merely about individual justice but about upholding the covenant purity and law within the nation. Benjamin's defiant stance, as described in Judges 20:12-14, transformed the demand for justice against a few individuals into a full-scale tribal conflict.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic civil war depicted in Judges 20, commencing with the arraying of forces in Judges 20:20, vividly illustrates the brokenness of humanity and the profound need for a true King. In the absence of a righteous ruler, "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25), leading to internal strife and nearly the annihilation of a tribe. This chaotic period foreshadows the ultimate solution found in Christ. While Israel sought justice through violent means, leading to devastating loss, Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, offers true and ultimate justice by taking away the sin of the world through His atoning sacrifice. He is the King who brings not division, but genuine unity, breaking down the dividing walls of hostility (Ephesians 2:14) and creating one new humanity in Himself. Unlike the flawed and destructive pursuit of justice in Judges, Christ's reign establishes a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), where believers are called to live in harmony and love, reflecting the perfect unity of the Godhead, a stark contrast to the fratricidal conflict at Gibeah.