Judges 20:8

KJV

And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any [of us] go to his tent, neither will we any [of us] turn into his house.

KJV (with Strong's)

And all the people {H5971} arose {H6965} as one {H259} man {H376}, saying {H559}, We will not any {H376} of us go {H3212} to his tent {H168}, neither will we any {H376} of us turn {H5493} into his house {H1004}.

Complete Jewish Bible

All the people stood up in agreement and said, "None of us will go home to his tent or his house.

Berean Standard Bible

Then all the people stood as one man and said, “Not one of us will return to his tent or to his house.

American Standard Version

And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn unto his house.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 20:8 captures the extraordinary, unified resolve of the Israelite tribes gathered at Mizpah, who, in response to the horrific atrocity committed in Gibeah, declared their unwavering commitment to justice. Overwhelmed by moral outrage, they solemnly vowed not to return to the comfort and normalcy of their homes until the profound evil within their covenant community was addressed and purged. This verse marks a pivotal moment of national solidarity, setting the stage for the severe, yet necessary, confrontation that followed.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 20:8 immediately follows the shocking and deeply disturbing events of [Judges 19](/judges/19 "Judges 19 - The Levite's Concubine and Gibeah's Atrocity"). A Levite's concubine was brutally gang-raped and murdered by men of Gibeah, a city in the tribe of Benjamin. In an act of profound desperation and a desperate plea for justice, the Levite dismembered her body into twelve pieces and sent a piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel. This gruesome act served as a visceral summons, an undeniable testament to the unparalleled depravity that had occurred within Israel. The assembly at Mizpah, described in [Judges 20:1-7](/judges/20-1 "Judges 20:1-7 - Israel Gathers at Mizpah"), represents the nation's collective response to this outrage. Verse 8, therefore, encapsulates the unanimous and resolute decision of the gathered tribes to act, signaling their refusal to tolerate such an abomination within their midst. It is the immediate, unified, and determined response to the Levite’s shocking appeal.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Judges depicts a tumultuous period in Israel's history, characterized by a lack of central authority ("in those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" – [Judges 17:6](/judges/17-6 "Judges 17:6 - Everyone Did What Was Right in Their Own Eyes")). This era was often marked by tribal independence, internal strife, and moral decay, leading to cycles of apostasy and oppression. The atrocity in Gibeah, involving a blatant violation of hospitality, sexual violence, and murder, represented a profound breakdown of the covenantal and social order. Such acts were not merely criminal but were seen as defiling the land and the entire nation, requiring a corporate response. Mizpah, a significant assembly point, was a place where Israel often gathered for national decisions, demonstrating the gravity of the crisis. The people's unified response in [Judges 20:8](/judges/20-8 "Judges 20:8 - Israel's Unified Resolve") was remarkable given the usual disunity of the period, underscoring the extreme nature of the crime and the deep moral conviction it provoked.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Judges and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **National Unity (or lack thereof)**, presenting a rare moment of Israelite solidarity in a period typically marked by fragmentation. This unity is born out of shared moral outrage against gross sin, a stark contrast to the tribal rivalries seen elsewhere, such as in [Judges 12:1-6](/judges/12-1 "Judges 12:1-6 - Ephraim's Dispute with Jephthah"). Secondly, it emphasizes the **Pursuit of Justice and Accountability**. The people's refusal to return home underscores their unwavering determination to see justice served and to purge evil from their midst, reflecting a core principle of God's law for Israel, as articulated in passages like [Deuteronomy 19:18-19](/deuteronomy/19-18 "Deuteronomy 19:18-19 - Justice for False Witnesses") and the broader call to eliminate evil from the community. Thirdly, the verse showcases **Moral Outrage and the Gravity of Sin**. The horrific nature of the crime provoked a profound sense of shock and indignation, leading to a unified call for accountability against the offenders. Finally, it touches upon **Collective Responsibility**, illustrating the understanding that an unpunished crime of this magnitude defiled the entire nation and required a collective response to uphold the integrity of the covenant and the holiness of the land, as seen in the laws concerning defilement in [Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - Abominations Defiling the Land").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **"as one man" (Hebrew: כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד, _k'ish echad_):** This powerful idiom signifies complete unanimity, a singular mind and purpose among a large group. It emphasizes the profound agreement and shared resolve that permeated the assembly at Mizpah, indicating an extraordinary and rare moment of unified purpose in the often fragmented era of the Judges. It suggests not merely a majority vote, but a collective, singular will to act.
* **"tent" / "house" (Hebrew: אֹהֶל, _'ohel_ / בַּיִת, _bayit_):** These terms represent the domestic sphere, the personal dwelling, and by extension, the comfort, security, and normalcy of daily life. The refusal to return to their "tent" or "house" signifies a solemn oath and an unyielding commitment to justice. It means they were willing to forgo personal comfort, safety, and routine until the profound wickedness committed by the Benjamites of Gibeah was addressed and punished. It underscores the gravity of their resolve and the depth of their moral conviction.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And all the people arose as one man,"**: This phrase immediately conveys the extraordinary and unprecedented unity of the Israelite tribes. In a period often marked by tribal independence and internal strife, this collective rising signifies a shared, instantaneous, and resolute response to the atrocity. It highlights their unanimous agreement and determination to act decisively, transcending typical divisions.
* **"saying, We will not any [of us] go to his tent, neither will we any [of us] turn into his house."**: This declaration is a solemn, binding oath. By refusing to return to their homes, the Israelites committed themselves fully to the task of seeking justice. It means they would not retreat to personal comfort or daily routines until the profound wickedness of Gibeah was dealt with. This commitment underscores the gravity of the offense and the deep moral conviction of the people that such evil could not be tolerated within the covenant community of Israel. It was a vow of sustained action and sacrifice.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 20:8 employs several potent literary devices to convey the depth of the Israelites' resolve. The phrase "**as one man**" is a powerful **Idiom** and a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the unparalleled unanimity and singular purpose of the vast assembly. While not literally every single individual, it powerfully communicates the unified will of the represented tribes. The mention of "tent" and "house" serves as **Synecdoche**, where a part (the dwelling) represents the whole (the entirety of one's normal, peaceful, domestic life). This refusal to return home is also a form of **Oath-Taking**, signaling an unyielding commitment and a willingness to sacrifice personal comfort for the sake of corporate justice. The stark contrast between the previous disunity in Judges and this sudden, unified action creates a dramatic tension, highlighting the extreme nature of the crime that could provoke such a response.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 20:8 profoundly illustrates the theological principle of corporate responsibility within the covenant community of Israel. The horrific sin committed by a segment of one tribe was understood to defile the entire nation, necessitating a collective response to uphold God's holiness and the integrity of the covenant. This act of unity, though tragically leading to civil war, reflects a deep-seated, albeit imperfect, understanding of God's demand for justice and the purging of evil from His people. It underscores that God's people are called to be distinct and holy, and grave sin within their borders cannot be ignored without consequence. The pursuit of justice here, however flawed in its execution, points to the divine standard for righteousness that Israel was continually failing to meet.

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

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 20:8 serves as a powerful and challenging reminder of the importance of standing united against profound injustice and moral corruption. In a world where apathy, division, and self-interest often prevail, the Israelites' resolute refusal to return to their comfortable lives until justice was served offers a stark counter-narrative. It teaches us that true moral courage often demands a willingness to step out of our personal spheres of comfort and convenience to address systemic or egregious evils. For the church today, this verse calls us to a similar unity in upholding biblical truth and righteousness, to not tolerate sin within our communities, and to actively pursue justice for the vulnerable and oppressed. It challenges us to consider whether our commitment to God's standards is strong enough to disrupt our own peace and comfort for the sake of His kingdom and the purity of His people.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What grave injustices or moral compromises in our society or community are we, as believers, tempted to ignore or tolerate out of a desire for personal comfort or peace?**
* **How can we foster a greater sense of "one man" unity within the church to address significant moral issues, rather than allowing division or apathy to prevail?**
* **What "tent" or "house" (i.e., personal comfort, security, or routine) might God be calling us to leave behind in order to pursue His justice and righteousness more fully?**
* **In what ways does our pursuit of justice reflect God's character, and how can we ensure it is tempered with His grace and wisdom?**

### FAQ
**Why was the response of "all the people" so unified in a period often characterized by disunity in Israel?**

Answer: The extreme nature of the crime committed in Gibeah—a horrific violation of hospitality, sexual violence, murder, and the subsequent dismemberment of the concubine's body—was so utterly heinous and unprecedented that it transcended typical tribal rivalries and personal interests. It was an abomination that threatened the very fabric of Israelite society and their covenant relationship with God. Such an act was seen as defiling the entire nation and challenging the core tenets of their law and morality. While the era of Judges was indeed marked by fragmentation (as highlighted in [Judges 17:6](/judges/17-6 "Everyone Did What Was Right in Their Own Eyes")), this particular atrocity was a direct affront to the foundational principles of justice and holiness that were supposed to define Israel. The unified outrage was a rare but powerful demonstration that some sins were simply too egregious to be ignored, demanding a collective and decisive response to purge the evil from their midst, as seen in the Levite's desperate appeal in [Judges 19:29-30](/judges/19-29 "The Levite's Dismemberment and Appeal").

**What does the phrase "We will not any [of us] go to his tent, neither will we any [of us] turn into his house" signify?**

Answer: This declaration is a solemn and binding oath, signifying an unyielding commitment to action. "Tent" and "house" represent the domestic sphere, personal comfort, security, and the normalcy of daily life. By refusing to return to their homes, the Israelites were vowing to forgo their personal peace, routines, and comforts until the profound wickedness committed in Gibeah was addressed and justice was served. It was a public and corporate pledge that they would not rest or retreat until the abomination was dealt with. This commitment highlights the gravity of the offense and the deep moral conviction of the people that such evil could not be tolerated within the covenant community of Israel. It underscored their determination to prioritize corporate righteousness over individual convenience, setting the stage for the dramatic conflict that followed.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 20:8, with its portrayal of a unified Israel rising "as one man" to confront profound evil, powerfully, yet imperfectly, foreshadows the ultimate "one man" who would perfectly deal with sin: Jesus Christ. While the Israelites' unity was born out of outrage and led to a bloody civil war, Christ's singular mission was to confront the root of all evil—sin itself—not through human warfare, but through divine sacrifice. The Israelites' inability to fully purge evil from their midst, even with such resolve, points to the inadequacy of human efforts and the desperate need for a perfect King and a perfect sacrifice. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God"), perfectly fulfills the need for a decisive, unified action against sin. He is the "one man" through whom righteousness is imputed to many ([Romans 5:18-19](/romans/5-18 "Righteousness Through One Act")). His atoning work on the cross definitively purges sin, providing true peace and rest (a spiritual "tent" and "house") for all who believe, a rest that Israel could never fully achieve through their own efforts ([Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9 "A Sabbath Rest Remains")). The church, as the body of Christ, is now called to a new kind of unity—a unity in the Spirit, bound by love and truth, empowered by grace—to proclaim His kingdom and live out His justice, looking forward to the day when all evil will be finally and completely eradicated by the returning King ([Ephesians 4:3-6](/ephesians/4-3 "Unity of the Spirit")).

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

Judges 20:1

¶ 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.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Proverbs 21:3

¶ To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Judges 20:11

So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

Judges 21:1

¶ Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

Judges 21:5

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.