Judges 20 10

Judges 20:10 kjv

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.

Judges 20:10 nkjv

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."

Judges 20:10 niv

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."

Judges 20:10 esv

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."

Judges 20:10 nlt

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."

Judges 20 verses

Judges 20 10 Meaning

Judges 20:10 describes the meticulous logistical plan formulated by the assembled tribes of Israel. It details their decision to select specific proportions of men from their entire population to gather and procure food for the army. The purpose was to enable the forces to carry out a punitive action against Gibeah of Benjamin, addressing the egregious "disgrace" (or nebalah) committed within Israel. This verse highlights the unified resolve of the Israelite community to respond to a profound moral and covenantal offense.

Judges 20 10 Context

Judges 20:10 stands at a critical juncture in one of the most tragic narratives in the Book of Judges. It follows the horrific incident detailed in chapter 19: the rape and murder of the Levite's concubine by the men of Gibeah in Benjamin. In response, the Levite dismembered her body and sent the pieces throughout Israel, acting as a grotesque call for justice. This shocking act mobilized the tribes of Israel, who assembled "as one man" at Mizpah (Judg 20:1) in righteous indignation. They confronted the tribe of Benjamin, demanding that the perpetrators in Gibeah be handed over. However, Benjamin stubbornly refused to surrender them, opting instead to defend the guilty. This defiance plunged Israel into a devastating civil war, fulfilling the recurring refrain in Judges that "in those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 17:6, 21:25).

Culturally, this assembly at Mizpah reflects a significant attempt by the unified tribes to uphold justice and national holiness, functions typically associated with a central authority that Israel lacked. Their methodical logistical planning for a military campaign indicates a serious and large-scale commitment to purging an abhorrent act—a nebalah—that had deeply defiled the community and the land, contravening covenant laws and divine holiness. This chapter serves as the nadir of Israel's spiritual decline in Judges, where their attempts at communal justice spiral into internecine violence, revealing their own profound moral confusion despite their initial righteous anger.

Judges 20 10 Word Analysis

• and we will take (וְלָקַחְנוּ, wəlaqahnu): A collective, deliberate decision ("we have decided and will take"). It signifies the consensus and unified purpose of the assembled tribes. It is an act of communal agency, demonstrating that the burden and responsibility were shared by all.
• ten men of an hundred (עֲשָׂרָה לַמֵּאָה, ʿăśārâ lammēʾâ): Lit. "ten to the hundred." This phrase, repeated with larger numbers, describes a fixed proportion. For every one hundred people, ten individuals would be assigned. This precise ratio (10%) demonstrates a systematic approach to resource management for a large-scale military operation. It reflects meticulous planning, suggesting the gravity with which Israel viewed the mission.
• throughout all the tribes of Israel: Emphasizes the collective nature of the undertaking. Every tribe was to contribute proportionally, reinforcing the unity and shared burden in addressing the widespread disgrace. This shows a commitment to corporate action.
• and an hundred of a thousand (וּמֵאָה לָאֶלֶף, ûmêʾâ lāʾelep): Lit. "and a hundred to the thousand." Continues the 10% ratio for a larger scale. It signifies that from larger units of people, an appropriate number would be designated, consistent with the 10% model.
• and a thousand of ten thousand (וְאֶלֶף לָרְבָבָה, wəʾelep lārəḇāḇâ): Lit. "and a thousand to the ten thousand." Reinforces the consistent 10% allocation. This progressive scaling demonstrates comprehensive logistical foresight for feeding a vast potential army drawn from the entire nation, not just a small contingent. It points to a well-organized and massive mobilization effort.
• to fetch victual (לָקַחַת צֵדָה, lāqaḥaṯ ṣēḏâ):
  • fetch (לָקַחַת, lāqaḥaṯ): "to take, to get, to receive." The active pursuit of provisions.
  • victual (צֵדָה, tsedah): "provisions, food for a journey, supplies." Essential for the sustenance of an army. A military campaign requires an effective supply chain; this decision addresses a fundamental logistical necessity for extended operations.
• for the people: The fighting force, the collective of those assembled to carry out the mission. It implies the primary concern for maintaining the strength and readiness of their unified military body.
• that they may do (לַעֲשׂוֹת, laʿăśôt): "in order to do, to perform, to act." This signifies the active carrying out of their intention. It highlights the execution phase of their plans.
• when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin: Specifies the immediate target of their action. Gibeah was the direct location of the crime and the seat of Benjamin's defiance, making it the central point of confrontation.
• according to all the disgrace (כְּכָל הַנְּבָלָה, kəḵol hannəḇālâ):
  • disgrace (נְבָלָה, nebalah): A key term, implying extreme moral turpitude, an outrageous or atrocious act, a vile indecency, and moral folly. It is used in the Bible for acts of gross immorality and affront to God's law (e.g., sexual offenses, wanton cruelty) that defile the community and require divine or human judgment to purify the land. It denotes not just a crime but an abomination.
  • according to all the disgrace: Means their actions were to be commensurate with the gravity and totality of the offense. They sought a response that justly dealt with the full extent of the abomination.
• that they have wrought in Israel (אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, ʾăšer ʿāśâ bəyiśrāʾēl):
  • wrought (עָשָׂה, ʿāśâ): "done, committed, performed."
  • in Israel: Emphasizes the public and communal nature of the transgression. The act was committed within the covenant community of God, defiling the entire nation and requiring a national response to cleanse it from within. It underscores the violation against God's holy people and land.

Judges 20 10 Bonus Section

The meticulously planned logistics for victual collection (the 10% allocation) ironically contrasts with Israel's incomplete or misguided consultation of God in the subsequent stages of the conflict. While they initially inquire of the Lord about who should go up first (Judg 20:18), they seem to focus more on their strength and righteousness than a deeper repentance or full divine strategy. This highlights a disconnect between external efficiency and internal spiritual alignment. Their meticulous earthly preparation for battle overshadowed the equally, if not more, crucial need for spiritual preparation and dependence on God's perfect will and purification processes. This reveals a tragic aspect of the Judges period: capable men with clear intent to punish evil, but flawed in their execution due to their own moral failings, ultimately leading to unprecedented internal devastation.

Judges 20 10 Commentary

Judges 20:10 provides a glimpse into the organized and determined resolve of the Israelite tribes. Following the atrocity in Gibeah, the tribes demonstrate surprising unity and logistical prowess, meticulously planning a sustained military operation. The proportionate levy of 10% of the population to procure food indicates foresight and a large-scale mobilization, contrasting sharply with the overall chaotic backdrop of the period. This precise provisioning shows their commitment to ensure the forces were well-fed for an anticipated prolonged campaign.

The heart of their motivation lies in addressing the "disgrace" (nebalah) that was "wrought in Israel." This nebalah was more than just a crime; it was an act of profound moral depravity and religious abomination that defied the very covenant with God and desecrated the holiness of His people. The phrase signifies a deep violation of the social and divine order. The tribes saw this not merely as a local incident, but a national defilement requiring national action, demonstrating a nascent awareness of corporate responsibility to purge evil from their midst, echoing Mosaic laws for purification. Despite their spiritual decline as a nation (evidenced by the cycle of Judges and the outcome of this very conflict), their initial impulse was righteous—to eradicate such wickedness. Yet, the tragedy lies in how their method, marked by human pride and eventual lack of full reliance on divine guidance, would ultimately lead to catastrophic internal conflict, near-annihilation, and further spiritual compromise. The careful planning of resources paradoxically stands in contrast to their failure to fully seek God's guidance, leading to devastating consequences.