Judges 20:20

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.

And the men {H376} of Israel {H3478} went out {H3318} to battle {H4421} against Benjamin {H1144}; and the men {H376} of Israel {H3478} put themselves in array {H6186} to fight {H4421} against them at Gibeah {H1390}.

Then the army of Isra'el went out to attack Binyamin and set up their battle line in front of Giv'ah.

And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took up their battle positions at Gibeah.

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.

Commentary

Context of Judges 20:20

Judges 20:20 marks the beginning of a devastating civil war within ancient Israel. This verse follows the shocking account in Judges 19, where a Levite's concubine was brutally abused and killed by Benjamite men in Gibeah. The outrage over this heinous crime led the other eleven tribes of Israel to assemble at Mizpah, demanding justice from the tribe of Benjamin. When Benjamin refused to surrender the culprits, the stage was set for an internal conflict of unprecedented scale. This verse describes the initial engagement, with the children of Israel (the combined forces of the other tribes) arraying themselves for battle against Benjamin at the very city where the crime took place, Gibeah.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Internal Strife and Division: This verse highlights the tragic reality of God's people fighting against each other. It underscores the profound consequences of sin and moral decay when it leads to such internal conflict rather than unity and righteousness, a theme echoed in Paul's warning against internal strife.
  • The Pursuit of Justice: The combined tribes of Israel were motivated by a desire for justice against a grave evil. However, the path to achieving it was fraught with immense suffering and loss, revealing the complexities of human justice and the heavy cost of civil war.
  • Consequences of Unchecked Sin: The events leading up to this battle demonstrate how unaddressed sin within a community can escalate to national tragedy. Benjamin's protection of the guilty brought severe repercussions upon their entire tribe.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "put themselves in array" (Hebrew: ื•ึทื™ึผึทึฝืขึทืจึฐื›ื•ึผ ืžึดืœึฐื—ึธืžึธื”, vayya'archu milchamah) literally means "they arranged battle" or "they set the battle lines." This emphasizes the deliberate and organized nature of the military engagement. It wasn't a spontaneous brawl but a planned confrontation, indicating the seriousness with which the tribes approached this conflict, despite it being against their own brethren.

Practical Application

Judges 20:20 serves as a somber reminder of the destructive power of internal conflict, whether in families, communities, or even the church. While the pursuit of justice is vital, this passage cautions us to consider the means and the potential collateral damage. It underscores the importance of addressing sin and moral decay promptly and biblically, to prevent escalation into devastating division. For believers today, it highlights the call to unity in Christ, as emphasized in passages like Ephesians 4:3, and to seek peaceful resolution to disputes whenever possible, rather than allowing bitterness and division to take root.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

No cross-references found.