Judges 20 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Judges 20 meaning explained in AI Summary

War with Benjamin This chapter details the escalating conflict between the Levite and the Benjamite tribe. The Levite seeks justice from the Israelites for the actions of the men of Gibeah. The other tribes demand that the Benjamites surrender the perpetrators, but the Benjamites refuse, leading to a full-scale war.

Chapter 20 of Judges details the horrifying climax of the downward spiral initiated in the previous chapter. It recounts the bloody civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of the Israelite tribes.

1. Gathering and Outrage: Representatives from all the Israelite tribes gather at Mizpah, united in outrage over the Levite's concubine's brutal murder by wicked men of Gibeah in Benjamin. (Judges 20:1-8)

2. United Front: The Israelites inquire about the details of the crime and decide to collectively confront the Benjaminites, demanding they hand over the guilty parties. (Judges 20:9-13)

3. Benjamin's Defiance: Shockingly, the Benjaminites refuse to cooperate and instead choose to protect the perpetrators, gathering their army at Gibeah to prepare for war against their own brethren. (Judges 20:14-16)

4. Initial Battles: The Israelites, guided by God, engage in two battles against the Benjaminites. Despite their superior numbers, the Israelites suffer heavy losses in both encounters. (Judges 20:17-25)

5. Seeking Guidance: Devastated by their losses, the Israelites weep before God, seeking guidance and inquiring whether they should continue the fight. God assures them of victory and instructs them on the battle strategy for the next day. (Judges 20:26-28)

6. The Ambush and Benjamin's Defeat: The Israelites set an ambush for the Benjaminites, drawing them out from Gibeah and then attacking from all sides. The Benjaminites are utterly defeated, with only 600 men escaping the slaughter. (Judges 20:29-48)

7. Gibeah's Destruction: The Israelites burn Gibeah to the ground as punishment for the horrific crime committed there. (Judges 20:48)

Consequences and Aftermath:

Chapter 20 ends on a chilling note, highlighting the devastating consequences of sin and the swift descent into chaos and violence. The Israelites, though ultimately victorious, suffer heavy losses, leaving a deep scar on the newly formed nation. This sets the stage for the tragic events and moral decay that continue to unfold in the following chapters.

Judges 20 bible study ai commentary

Judges 20 depicts a horrifying civil war, the culmination of the moral decay detailed in the preceding chapters. All of Israel unites to bring a wicked city to justice, but their initial efforts are marked by self-righteous pride, leading to shocking defeats. Only after genuine repentance, fasting, and seeking God’s will correctly does God grant them victory. The subsequent slaughter is so severe it nearly annihilates the tribe of Benjamin, showcasing how even righteous zeal, when tainted by human fury, can lead to devastating and excessive consequences. This chapter is a stark portrait of a nation without godly leadership, where even a collective attempt at justice descends into chaos.

Judges 20 Context

This event, while placed at the end of Judges, chronologically occurs much earlier, shortly after the death of Joshua. This is confirmed by the presence of Phinehas (v. 28), the grandson of Aaron, who was a contemporary of Joshua. The book is arranged thematically, not chronologically, to show the progressive downward spiral of Israel. The final chapters (17-21) serve as an appendix demonstrating the chaos that ensues when "there was no king in Israel" and the people forsook God's direct rule, leading to religious and moral anarchy.

Judges 20:1-7

Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah. ...And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. And the men of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me, and they ravished my concubine so that she died. And I took my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed a lewd and outrageous act in Israel. Behold, you are all people of Israel; give your advice and counsel here.”

In-depth-analysis

"As one man": This phrase emphasizes an extraordinary, instantaneous national unity, driven by horror at the reported crime. This is the largest assembly of Israel described in the book.
Mizpah: Meaning "watchtower," it was a traditional site for sacred assemblies and covenants (Gen 31:49, 1 Sam 7:5).
The Levite’s Testimony: His account is a masterful, self-serving manipulation.
- He omits his own culpability in pushing his concubine out the door (Jdg 19:25).
- He frames the attack as primarily against himself ("They intended to kill me"), making him the chief victim.
- He omits the men's initial demand ("Bring out the man... that we may know him"), sanitizing the homosexual nature of the intended assault, perhaps to ensure a broader coalition against the general "outrage" (zimnah - lewdness, and nebalah - foolish/disgraceful villainy).
His goal was to incite war, not to seek measured justice as prescribed by the Law.

Bible references

Joshua 22:12: 'And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them.' (Another gathering for a perceived national sin).
1 Samuel 7:5-6: 'Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.”... and they fasted on that day' (Mizpah as a site of national repentance, a stark contrast to the initial self-righteousness here).

Cross references

Josh 24:1 (Assembly at Shechem); Jdg 19:29-30 (The inciting incident); Psa 51:4 (David's honest confession vs. the Levite's); Prov 12:19 (Deceptive tongue); Prov 18:17 (The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him).

Judges 20:8-13

And all the people arose as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent... we will go up against it by lot...” Then the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this great evil that has been done among you? Now therefore, give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” But the people of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers...

In-depth-analysis

Rash Decision: The people pronounce a sentence and prepare for war before fully investigating or even giving Benjamin a chance to respond. Their zeal lacks wisdom and due process.
"Purge evil from Israel": This language is taken directly from the Law of Moses, showing they knew the right words. However, their motive appears to be vengeance more than pure-hearted justice.
Corporate Guilt: Benjamin’s fatal error was siding with the "worthless fellows" (bene beliyya‘al - sons of worthlessness) of Gibeah. By protecting the murderers, the entire tribe became complicit in the crime, shifting the conflict from a local matter to a national civil war. This is a classic case of misplaced loyalty.

Bible references

Deuteronomy 13:13-15: '“Certain worthless fellows... have seduced the inhabitants... you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword.”' (The law Israel tried to apply).
Deuteronomy 17:7: '“So you shall purge the evil from your midst.”' (The stated goal of the Israelite assembly).
Joshua 7:1, 11-12: 'But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things... Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies.' (Achan's sin brings corporate guilt and defeat upon all Israel).

Cross references

Prov 19:2 (Zeal without knowledge); Jdg 19:22 (The "worthless fellows"); Rom 1:32 (Those who approve of evil are also worthy of death); 1 Tim 5:22 (Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others).

Judges 20:14-18

And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel. ...all these were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, numbered 400,000 men who drew the sword... The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, “Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up first.”

In-depth-analysis

Benjamin's Warriors: They muster 26,700 men. The 700 elite slingers are highlighted—their ambidextrous or left-handed skill was a famed military advantage, allowing them to attack from unexpected angles.
Israel’s Question: Their first inquiry to God is critically flawed. They do not ask "Should we go to war?" or "Will you grant us victory?" They only ask, "Who goes first?" They have already decided on their course of action and are merely asking God to rubber-stamp the logistics.
God's Answer: God gives a literal, noncommittal answer: "Judah." He doesn't promise victory because they haven't asked for it or humbled themselves. Judah was often chosen to lead (Jdg 1:1-2), so this answer meets their request without endorsing their arrogant venture.

Bible references

Judges 3:15: '...Ehud... a left-handed man, the son of a Benjamite.' (A recurring trait of the tribe).
1 Chronicles 12:2: '[Benjamites] were armed with bows and could use the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows.' (Benjamite martial prowess).
Judges 1:1-2: '“Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites...?” The LORD said, “Judah shall go up.”' (An identical question/answer, but in a context of obedience, not arrogance).

Cross references

Num 27:21 (Inquiring of the LORD via Urim); 1 Sam 23:2, 4, 11 (David’s proper model of inquiry); Prov 16:18 (Pride before a fall).

Judges 20:19-28

The people of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and... Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah and struck down 22,000 men of Israel... And the people of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening. They inquired of the LORD... “Shall I go up again to battle against the people of Benjamin my brother?” And the LORD said, “Go up against him.”... [they were defeated again, losing 18,000 men]. Then all the people of Israel... went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings... And Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, stood before it in those days, saying, “Shall I go up again to battle... or shall I cease?” And the LORD said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”

In-depth-analysis

First Two Defeats: The shocking losses (40,000 men) were a divine rebuke. God humbled the pride of the larger confederation, forcing them to see that their cause, while just, was pursued with sinful arrogance. They had to be purged before they could purge evil from Benjamin.
Progression of Repentance:
1. After 1st Defeat: They weep, but their second question is still presumptuous. "Shall I go up again... my brother?" The term "brother" shows their troubled conscience.
2. After 2nd Defeat: This is the turning point. Their repentance becomes genuine and thorough. They weep, fast, and offer sacrifices (burnt offerings for atonement, peace offerings for fellowship).
The Right Question and Answer: Finally, they ask a question of true submission: "Shall I go up... or shall I cease?" They are now willing to stand down if it's God's will. Only then does God give them a clear promise of victory: "Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them."
Phinehas and the Ark: The presence of the Ark of the Covenant at Bethel (not Shiloh, its usual home) shows the fragmented state of worship. Phinehas' presence confirms the early historical setting. His famous zeal (Num 25) contrasts with the tainted zeal of the tribes.

Bible references

Hosea 5:15: 'I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek me.' (God's withdrawal to provoke repentance).
Joel 2:12-13: '“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.”' (The model of true repentance Israel finally followed).
Numbers 25:7-11: 'When Phinehas... saw it, he rose... and he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy.' (Phinehas as the model of righteous zeal).

Cross references

Jas 4:10 (Humble yourselves); 1 Pet 5:6 (Humble yourselves); Ps 51:17 (A broken and contrite heart); Lev 1:1-17 (Burnt offerings); Lev 3:1-17 (Peace offerings).

Judges 20:29-48

So Israel set an ambush around Gibeah. ...And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city... Then the main body of Israel turned and struck them... they set the city on fire. ...they struck with the edge of the sword every man in the cities, and the beasts and all that they found. And all the towns that they found they set on fire.

In-depth-analysis

Strategy from Faith: Now that their hearts are right, they employ wise military strategy—a classic ambush, mirroring the battle of Ai. Faith is not a substitute for prudent action.
Benjamin's Pride: Drunk on their previous successes, Benjamin is lured into the trap. Pride led directly to their destruction.
Justice to Vengeance: The victory turns into a bloodbath. Israel’s response is one of uncontrolled fury. They don’t just punish the guilty city of Gibeah; they enact herem-style destruction (total annihilation) across all of Benjamin's territory, killing men, women, children (implied in "every man in the cities"), and even beasts.
Excessive Annihilation: This goes far beyond the "purging of evil" required by the Law. It was a vengeful massacre that nearly wiped a tribe of Israel from existence. The moral victors became moral failures in their execution of the victory, setting up the crisis of chapter 21. Only 600 men of Benjamin survive.

Bible references

Joshua 8:3-22: 'So Joshua and all the people of war arose to go up to Ai. And Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out by night... He commanded them... “you shall be an ambush for the city.”' (The exact strategy used here).
Hosea 10:9: 'From the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel...' (The sin of Gibeah became a prophetic symbol of Israel's deep-seated corruption).
Proverbs 16:18: 'Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.' (A perfect description of Benjamin's downfall).

Cross references

Deut 20:16-17 (Herem law for Canaanites, not Israelites); Jer 6:11 (Filled with the wrath of the LORD); Rev 18:8 (Judgment of Babylon).

Judges 20 analysis

The Chronological Disconnect: The placement of this story at the end of Judges is a theological argument, not a chronological fact. By placing it last, the author uses this horrific civil war as the ultimate example of the moral and social chaos that defined the pre-monarchy era, summed up by the refrain "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Phinehas’s presence (v. 28) firmly dates the event to the generation immediately following Joshua, showing that the rot in Israel began almost immediately.
The Failure of "Righteous" Anger: This chapter serves as a profound warning about self-righteousness. Israel's cause was just, but their hearts were proud. God had to defeat them twice to humble them into a state of true reliance. It shows that even a righteous cause can be pursued with sinful motives (pride, vengeance), which God will oppose.
The Anatomy of a Civil War: The chapter dissects the tragic path to internal conflict: an atrocious sin (ch. 19), a biased report, a rush to judgment, misplaced tribal loyalty that protects wickedness, and arrogant assumptions of divine approval, all culminating in a near-genocidal slaughter that violated the spirit of God’s law.
Israel as "Sodom": The prophet Hosea later equated this event with the wickedness of Sodom (Hosea 9:9, 10:9). The sin of Gibeah (homosexual assault, lack of hospitality, brutality) was so grievous that it became a byword for Israel’s most profound apostasy. This war was essentially God using Israel to punish a part of Israel that was acting like Canaanites.

Judges 20 summary

Israel gathers to punish the city of Gibeah for a horrific crime. Proud and self-reliant, Israel is shockingly defeated twice by the smaller tribe of Benjamin. After 40,000 casualties, Israel finally humbles themselves with fasting and proper inquiry. God then grants them victory through an ambush. However, their subsequent attack turns into a vengeful, near-total annihilation of Benjamin, demonstrating that even a just war pursued with pride and rage leads to tragedy, perfectly illustrating the chaos of an Israel without godly leadership.

Judges 19 AI Judges 21 AI

Judges 20 AI Image Audio and Video

Judges chapter 20 kjv

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.
² And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.
³ (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?
⁴ And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
⁵ And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.
⁶ And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
⁷ Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.
⁸ 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.
⁹ But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;
¹⁰ And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.
¹¹ So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
¹² And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?
¹³ Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.
¹⁴ But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.
¹⁵ And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
¹⁶ Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.
¹⁷ And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.
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.
²⁶ Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
²⁷ And the children of Israel inquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
²⁸ And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.
²⁹ And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.
³⁰ And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.
³¹ And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
³² And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.
³³ And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah.
³⁴ And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil was near them.
³⁵ And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.
³⁶ So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.
³⁷ And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.
³⁸ Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.
³⁹ And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.
⁴⁰ But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.
⁴¹ And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.
⁴² Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.
⁴³ Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.
⁴⁴ And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valor.
⁴⁵ And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.
⁴⁶ So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valor.
⁴⁷ But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.
⁴⁸ And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.

Judges chapter 20 nkjv

¹ So all the children of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, as well as from the land of Gilead, and the congregation gathered together as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.
² And the leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot soldiers who drew the sword.
³ (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the children of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this wicked deed happen?"
⁴ So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, "My concubine and I went into Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, to spend the night.
⁵ And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me, but instead they ravished my concubine so that she died.
⁶ So I took hold of my concubine, cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of the inheritance of Israel, because they committed lewdness and outrage in Israel.
⁷ Look! All of you are children of Israel; give your advice and counsel here and now!"
⁸ So all the people arose as one man, saying, "None of us will go to his tent, nor will any turn back to his house;
⁹ but now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: We will go up against it by lot.
¹⁰ We will take ten men out of every hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to make provisions for the people, that when they come to Gibeah in Benjamin, they may repay all the vileness that they have done in Israel."
¹¹ So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, united together as one man.
¹² Then the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What is this wickedness that has occurred among you?
¹³ Now therefore, deliver up the men, the perverted men who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove the evil from Israel!" But the children of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brethren, the children of Israel.
¹⁴ Instead, the children of Benjamin gathered together from their cities to Gibeah, to go to battle against the children of Israel.
¹⁵ And from their cities at that time the children of Benjamin numbered twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred select men.
¹⁶ Among all this people were seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair's breadth and not miss.
¹⁷ Now besides Benjamin, the men of Israel numbered four hundred thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were men of war.
¹⁸ Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, "Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?" The LORD said, "Judah first!"
¹⁹ So the children of Israel rose 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 battle array to fight against them at Gibeah.
²¹ Then the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites.
²² And the people, that is, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and again formed the battle line at the place where they had put themselves in array on the first day.
²³ Then the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, "Shall I again draw near for battle against the children of my brother Benjamin?" And the LORD said, "Go up against him."
²⁴ So the children of Israel approached the children of Benjamin on the second day.
²⁵ And Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah on the second day, and cut down to the ground eighteen thousand more of the children of Israel; all these drew the sword.
²⁶ Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
²⁷ So the children of Israel inquired of the LORD ( the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
²⁸ and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, "Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?" And the LORD said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand."
²⁹ Then Israel set men in ambush all around Gibeah.
³⁰ And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in battle array against Gibeah as at the other times.
³¹ So the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city. They began to strike down and kill some of the people, as at the other times, in the highways (one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah) and in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
³² And the children of Benjamin said, "They are defeated before us, as at first." But the children of Israel said, "Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways."
³³ So all the men of Israel rose from their place and put themselves in battle array at Baal Tamar. Then Israel's men in ambush burst forth from their position in the plain of Geba.
³⁴ And ten thousand select men from all Israel came against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce. But the Benjamites did not know that disaster was upon them.
³⁵ The LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel. And the children of Israel destroyed that day twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites; all these drew the sword.
³⁶ So the children of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel had given ground to the Benjamites, because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.
³⁷ And the men in ambush quickly rushed upon Gibeah; the men in ambush spread out and struck the whole city with the edge of the sword.
³⁸ Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise up from the city,
³⁹ whereupon the men of Israel would turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty of the men of Israel. For they said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."
⁴⁰ But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and there was the whole city going up in smoke to heaven.
⁴¹ And when the men of Israel turned back, the men of Benjamin panicked, for they saw that disaster had come upon them.
⁴² Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them, and whoever came out of the cities they destroyed in their midst.
⁴³ They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and easily trampled them down as far as the front of Gibeah toward the east.
⁴⁴ And eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor.
⁴⁵ Then they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon; and they cut down five thousand of them on the highways. Then they pursued them relentlessly up to Gidom, and killed two thousand of them.
⁴⁶ So all who fell of Benjamin that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all these were men of valor.
⁴⁷ But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they stayed at the rock of Rimmon for four months.
⁴⁸ And the men of Israel turned back against the children of Benjamin, and struck them down with the edge of the sword?from every city, men and beasts, all who were found. They also set fire to all the cities they came to.

Judges chapter 20 niv

¹ Then all Israel from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came together as one and assembled before the LORD in Mizpah.
² The leaders of all the people of the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God's people, four hundred thousand men armed with swords.
³ (The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said, "Tell us how this awful thing happened."
⁴ So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, "I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.
⁵ During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine, and she died.
⁶ I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel's inheritance, because they committed this lewd and outrageous act in Israel.
⁷ Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do."
⁸ All the men rose up together as one, saying, "None of us will go home. No, not one of us will return to his house.
⁹ But now this is what we'll do to Gibeah: We'll go up against it in the order decided by casting lots.
¹⁰ We'll take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred from a thousand, and a thousand from ten thousand, to get provisions for the army. Then, when the army arrives at Gibeah in Benjamin, it can give them what they deserve for this outrageous act done in Israel."
¹¹ So all the Israelites got together and united as one against the city.
¹² The tribes of Israel sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What about this awful crime that was committed among you?
¹³ Now turn those wicked men of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel." But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites.
¹⁴ From their towns they came together at Gibeah to fight against the Israelites.
¹⁵ At once the Benjamites mobilized twenty-six thousand swordsmen from their towns, in addition to seven hundred able young men from those living in Gibeah.
¹⁶ Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
¹⁷ Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle.
¹⁸ The Israelites went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They said, "Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Benjamites?" The LORD replied, "Judah shall go first."
¹⁹ The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah.
²⁰ The Israelites went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah.
²¹ The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.
²² But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day.
²³ The Israelites went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and they inquired of the LORD. They said, "Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites?" The LORD answered, "Go up against them."
²⁴ Then the Israelites drew near to Benjamin the second day.
²⁵ This time, when the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites, all of them armed with swords.
²⁶ Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD.
²⁷ And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,
²⁸ with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, "Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?" The LORD responded, "Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands."
²⁹ Then Israel set an ambush around Gibeah.
³⁰ They went up against the Benjamites on the third day and took up positions against Gibeah as they had done before.
³¹ The Benjamites came out to meet them and were drawn away from the city. They began to inflict casualties on the Israelites as before, so that about thirty men fell in the open field and on the roads?the one leading to Bethel and the other to Gibeah.
³² While the Benjamites were saying, "We are defeating them as before," the Israelites were saying, "Let's retreat and draw them away from the city to the roads."
³³ All the men of Israel moved from their places and took up positions at Baal Tamar, and the Israelite ambush charged out of its place on the west of Gibeah.
³⁴ Then ten thousand of Israel's able young men made a frontal attack on Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that the Benjamites did not realize how near disaster was.
³⁵ The LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel, and on that day the Israelites struck down 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.
³⁶ Then the Benjamites saw that they were beaten. Now the men of Israel had given way before Benjamin, because they relied on the ambush they had set near Gibeah.
³⁷ Those who had been in ambush made a sudden dash into Gibeah, spread out and put the whole city to the sword.
³⁸ The Israelites had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke from the city,
³⁹ and then the Israelites would counterattack. The Benjamites had begun to inflict casualties on the Israelites (about thirty), and they said, "We are defeating them as in the first battle."
⁴⁰ But when the column of smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites turned and saw the whole city going up in smoke.
⁴¹ Then the Israelites counterattacked, and the Benjamites were terrified, because they realized that disaster had come on them.
⁴² So they fled before the Israelites in the direction of the wilderness, but they could not escape the battle. And the Israelites who came out of the towns cut them down there.
⁴³ They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and easily overran them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east.
⁴⁴ Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell, all of them valiant fighters.
⁴⁵ As they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, the Israelites cut down five thousand men along the roads. They kept pressing after the Benjamites as far as Gidom and struck down two thousand more.
⁴⁶ On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters.
⁴⁷ But six hundred of them turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months.
⁴⁸ The men of Israel went back to Benjamin and put all the towns to the sword, including the animals and everything else they found. All the towns they came across they set on fire.

Judges chapter 20 esv

¹ Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah.
² And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword.
³ (Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this evil happen?"
⁴ And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, "I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.
⁵ And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead.
⁶ So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel.
⁷ Behold, you people of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel here."
⁸ And all the people arose as one man, saying, "None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house.
⁹ But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot,
¹⁰ and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel."
¹¹ So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man.
¹² And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What evil is this that has taken place among you?
¹³ Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel." But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel.
¹⁴ Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel.
¹⁵ And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men.
¹⁶ Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
¹⁷ And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.
¹⁸ The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the LORD said, "Judah shall go up first."
¹⁹ Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.
²⁰ And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah.
²¹ The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.
²² But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day.
²³ And the people of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until the evening. And they inquired of the LORD, "Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?" And the LORD said, "Go up against them."
²⁴ So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day.
²⁵ And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who drew the sword.
²⁶ Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
²⁷ And the people of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
²⁸ and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, "Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?" And the LORD said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand."
²⁹ So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah.
³⁰ And the people of Israel went up against the people of Benjamin on the third day and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.
³¹ And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.
³² And the people of Benjamin said, "They are routed before us, as at the first." But the people of Israel said, "Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways."
³³ And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed out of their place from Maareh-geba.
³⁴ And there came against Gibeah 10,000 chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was hard, but the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them.
³⁵ And the LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who drew the sword.
³⁶ So the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.
³⁷ Then the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush moved out and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.
³⁸ Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in the main ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city
³⁹ the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel. They said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."
⁴⁰ But when the signal began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven.
⁴¹ Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that disaster was close upon them.
⁴² Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. And those who came out of the cities were destroying them in their midst.
⁴³ Surrounding the Benjaminites, they pursued them and trod them down from Nohah as far as opposite Gibeah on the east.
⁴⁴ Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all of them men of valor.
⁴⁵ And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. Five thousand men of them were cut down in the highways. And they were pursued hard to Gidom, and 2,000 men of them were struck down.
⁴⁶ So all who fell that day of Benjamin were 25,000 men who drew the sword, all of them men of valor.
⁴⁷ But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and remained at the rock of Rimmon four months.
⁴⁸ And the men of Israel turned back against the people of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, the city, men and beasts and all that they found. And all the towns that they found they set on fire.

Judges chapter 20 nlt

¹ Then all the Israelites were united as one man, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, including those from across the Jordan in the land of Gilead. The entire community assembled in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.
² The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel ? 400,000 warriors armed with swords ? took their positions in the assembly of the people of God.
³ (Word soon reached the land of Benjamin that the other tribes had gone up to Mizpah.) The Israelites then asked how this terrible crime had happened.
⁴ The Levite, the husband of the woman who had been murdered, said, "My concubine and I came to spend the night in Gibeah, a town that belongs to the people of Benjamin.
⁵ That night some of the leading citizens of Gibeah surrounded the house, planning to kill me, and they raped my concubine until she was dead.
⁶ So I cut her body into twelve pieces and sent the pieces throughout the territory assigned to Israel, for these men have committed a terrible and shameful crime.
⁷ Now then, all of you ? the entire community of Israel ? must decide here and now what should be done about this!"
⁸ And all the people rose to their feet in unison and declared, "None of us will return home! No, not even one of us!
⁹ Instead, this is what we will do to Gibeah; we will draw lots to decide who will attack it.
¹⁰ One-tenth of the men from each tribe will be chosen to supply the warriors with food, and the rest of us will take revenge on Gibeah of Benjamin for this shameful thing they have done in Israel."
¹¹ So all the Israelites were completely united, and they gathered together to attack the town.
¹² The Israelites sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What a terrible thing has been done among you!
¹³ Give up those evil men, those troublemakers from Gibeah, so we can execute them and purge Israel of this evil." But the people of Benjamin would not listen.
¹⁴ Instead, they came from their towns and gathered at Gibeah to fight the Israelites.
¹⁵ In all, 26,000 of their warriors armed with swords arrived in Gibeah to join the 700 elite troops who lived there.
¹⁶ Among Benjamin's elite troops, 700 were left-handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target within a hairsbreadth without missing.
¹⁷ Israel had 400,000 experienced soldiers armed with swords, not counting Benjamin's warriors.
¹⁸ Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, "Which tribe should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?" The LORD answered, "Judah is to go first."
¹⁹ So the Israelites left early the next morning and camped near Gibeah.
²⁰ Then they advanced toward Gibeah to attack the men of Benjamin.
²¹ But Benjamin's warriors, who were defending the town, came out and killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.
²² But the Israelites encouraged each other and took their positions again at the same place they had fought the previous day.
²³ For they had gone up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the LORD until evening. They had asked the LORD, "Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again?" And the LORD had said, "Go out and fight against them."
²⁴ So the next day they went out again to fight against the men of Benjamin,
²⁵ but the men of Benjamin killed another 18,000 Israelites, all of whom were experienced with the sword.
²⁶ Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the LORD and fasted until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.
²⁷ The Israelites went up seeking direction from the LORD. (In those days the Ark of the Covenant of God was in Bethel,
²⁸ and Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron was the priest.) The Israelites asked the LORD, "Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again, or should we stop?" The LORD said, "Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you."
²⁹ So the Israelites set an ambush all around Gibeah.
³⁰ They went out on the third day and took their positions at the same place as before.
³¹ When the men of Benjamin came out to attack, they were drawn away from the town. And as they had done before, they began to kill the Israelites. About thirty Israelites died in the open fields and along the roads, one leading to Bethel and the other leading back to Gibeah.
³² Then the warriors of Benjamin shouted, "We're defeating them as we did before!" But the Israelites had planned in advance to run away so that the men of Benjamin would chase them along the roads and be drawn away from the town.
³³ When the main group of Israelite warriors reached Baal-tamar, they turned and took up their positions. Meanwhile, the Israelites hiding in ambush to the west of Gibeah jumped up to fight.
³⁴ There were 10,000 elite Israelite troops who advanced against Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that Benjamin didn't realize the impending disaster.
³⁵ So the LORD helped Israel defeat Benjamin, and that day the Israelites killed 25,100 of Benjamin's warriors, all of whom were experienced swordsmen.
³⁶ Then the men of Benjamin saw that they were beaten. The Israelites had retreated from Benjamin's warriors in order to give those hiding in ambush more room to maneuver against Gibeah.
³⁷ Then those who were hiding rushed in from all sides and killed everyone in the town.
³⁸ They had arranged to send up a large cloud of smoke from the town as a signal.
³⁹ When the Israelites saw the smoke, they turned and attacked Benjamin's warriors. By that time Benjamin's warriors had killed about thirty Israelites, and they shouted, "We're defeating them as we did in the first battle!"
⁴⁰ But when the warriors of Benjamin looked behind them and saw the smoke rising into the sky from every part of the town,
⁴¹ the men of Israel turned and attacked. At this point the men of Benjamin became terrified, because they realized disaster was close at hand.
⁴² So they turned around and fled before the Israelites toward the wilderness. But they couldn't escape the battle, and the people who came out of the nearby towns were also killed.
⁴³ The Israelites surrounded the men of Benjamin and chased them relentlessly, finally overtaking them east of Gibeah.
⁴⁴ That day 18,000 of Benjamin's strongest warriors died in battle.
⁴⁵ The survivors fled into the wilderness toward the rock of Rimmon, but Israel killed 5,000 of them along the road. They continued the chase until they had killed another 2,000 near Gidom.
⁴⁶ So that day the tribe of Benjamin lost 25,000 strong warriors armed with swords,
⁴⁷ leaving only 600 men who escaped to the rock of Rimmon, where they lived for four months.
⁴⁸ And the Israelites returned and slaughtered every living thing in all the towns ? the people, the livestock, and everything they found. They also burned down all the towns they came to.