Judges 20:16 kjv
Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.
Judges 20:16 nkjv
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.
Judges 20:16 niv
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.
Judges 20:16 esv
Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
Judges 20:16 nlt
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.
Judges 20 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jdg 3:15 | "But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man." | Ehud, also a Benjamite, was left-handed. |
| 1 Chr 12:2 | "They were armed with bows and could shoot arrows or sling stones with either the right hand or the left..." | Benjamite warriors noted for ambidexterity. |
| Gen 49:27 | "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning devours the prey, and at evening divides the spoil." | Jacob's prophecy on Benjamin's fierce nature. |
| 1 Sam 17:40, 49 | "Then David took his staff in his hand... he chose five smooth stones... He put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead." | Sling as an effective, deadly weapon. |
| 2 Sam 1:22 | "The bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty." | Skillful execution in battle. |
| Jer 4:22 | "For my people are foolish... they are wise in doing evil, but how to do good they know not." | The Hebrew root ḥaṭa' means "miss the mark," "sin." |
| Psa 33:16-17 | "The king is not saved by his great army... A war horse is a vain hope for deliverance..." | Human military strength cannot grant salvation. |
| Prov 21:31 | "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." | Victory ultimately rests with God. |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." | God's work is accomplished by His Spirit. |
| 1 Cor 1:27-28 | "But God chose what is foolish... what is weak... what is low... and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are..." | God often uses unexpected means and weakens the strong. |
| Jdg 7:2 | "The Lord said to Gideon, 'The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me...'" | God reduces human strength to ensure His glory. |
| Num 32:23 | "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out." | The inevitable consequence of sin. |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | Sin's deadly consequence, demonstrated by Benjamin's nearly fatal judgment. |
| Lev 26:17 | "I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you." | Defeat as a result of divine judgment for disobedience. |
| Psa 18:34 | "He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze." | God is the source of true skill and strength in battle. |
| 1 Sam 2:9 | "He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail." | God's protection and man's reliance on Him. |
| Isa 55:11 | "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose..." | God's ultimate sovereignty and effective purpose. |
| Deut 28:7 | "The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you..." | God grants victory for obedience, and defeat for disobedience. |
| Jdg 20:20-25 | (After initial defeats of Israel) "Then the men of Israel went up against the people of Benjamin the second day. And Benjamin went out against them... and again laid low 18,000 of them..." | Benjamin's great skill accounts for their initial successes. |
| Jdg 20:34-35 | "Then 10,000 chosen men from all Israel were arrayed against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce... So the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel..." | Despite their skill, Benjamin ultimately suffered defeat due to divine intervention. |
Judges 20 verses
Judges 20 16 Meaning
Judges 20:16 describes an elite unit within the Benjamite army during a civil war. It specifies seven hundred select warriors who were "left-handed" and possessed extraordinary precision with the sling. These men could aim at targets with perfect accuracy, hitting a "hair breadth" without missing. This detail highlights the formidable martial prowess of the tribe of Benjamin, providing context for the initial struggles faced by the other Israelite tribes in their efforts to subdue them.
Judges 20 16 Context
Judges 20:16 is situated within the closing chapters of the Book of Judges, a period characterized by moral and spiritual decline where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes." The verse forms part of the detailed description of the Benjamite forces as they prepare for a brutal civil war against the other tribes of Israel. This conflict stems from the heinous atrocity committed by men of Gibeah (Benjamin) against a Levite's concubine (Judges 19), and Benjamin's subsequent refusal to hand over the culprits. The exceptional skill of these "left-handed" slingers explains, in part, why the vastly more numerous tribes of Israel were initially defeated in two successive battles. This highlight of Benjamin's formidable human might ultimately serves to amplify the significance of their final, divinely orchestrated defeat, underscoring that no amount of human prowess can stand against God's righteous judgment.
Judges 20 16 Word analysis
- Among all this people: Refers to the Benjamite soldiers mobilized for battle, specifically those numbering 26,000 according to Jdg 20:15. This phrase sets this elite group apart from the larger body of fighting men.
- seven hundred: A precise numerical figure, signifying a deliberately organized, distinct, and highly valuable tactical unit rather than a general estimate.
- chosen men: Hebrew: baḥur (בָּחוּר), meaning "chosen," "select," or "young men." It denotes an elite status, indicating that these warriors were hand-picked and highly trained for their specialized combat role.
- left-handed: Hebrew: 'iṭṭer yaḏ yĕmînô (אִטֵּר יַד יְמִינוֹ), which literally translates to "restricted of his right hand." This suggests not just natural left-handedness, but potentially a specific cultural or martial training regimen in Benjamin that encouraged or enforced left-hand proficiency, rendering their attacks unpredictable to adversaries accustomed to right-handed fighters.
- every one could sling stones: Highlights the universal mastery of the sling among this specialized group. The sling was a significant projectile weapon in ancient warfare, capable of delivering lethal force at range.
- at an hair breadth: Hebrew: 'el haśśə'ārâ (אֶל הַשְּׂעָרָה), literally "to the hair." This is a strong hyperbolic idiom, emphasizing extreme, almost impossible, accuracy and precision. It conveys an unfailing ability to hit the precise target.
- and not miss: Hebrew: lō' yiḥṭî'û (לֹא יַחֲטִיאוּ). The verb ḥaṭa' (חָטָא) means "to miss the mark," "to err," or "to sin." In this context, it literally means they would not fail to hit their target. This negative assertion reinforces their flawless aim and devastating effectiveness.
- Group analysis: "seven hundred chosen men left-handed; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss." This complete phrase describes an extraordinarily skilled, unique, and highly effective combat unit within the Benjamite army. Their distinctive trait of being "left-handed" (or trained to fight as such) gave them a tactical advantage by delivering strikes from unexpected angles, while their unparalleled precision with the sling made them exceptionally lethal. This description accounts for the Benjamites' initial formidable resistance and serves to heighten the contrast between impressive human military might and the overwhelming power of divine judgment when wickedness demands retribution.
Judges 20 16 Bonus section
The Benjamites had a historical reputation for being fierce warriors, evident from Jacob's blessing of Benjamin (Gen 49:27) and earlier in Judges with Ehud. The emphasis on "left-handedness" is unique within biblical texts about warfare and hints at specialized training in Israel. Such training could include "blinding" the right eye, or tying down the right arm during childhood, making the left hand dominant. This unusual tactic would make Benjamite fighters particularly dangerous to opponents whose training was predominantly oriented towards countering right-handed attacks. This deliberate focus on a small, highly specialized force not only creates vivid imagery but also intensifies the narrative's tension by presenting a seemingly invincible human opponent. Their seemingly perfect aiming skill underscores that their ultimate downfall was not a matter of human military failing, but a demonstration of God's unyielding demand for justice and moral purity in His people.
Judges 20 16 Commentary
Judges 20:16 offers a striking depiction of Benjamite martial excellence, emphasizing their formidable nature as a tribal fighting force. The specific mention of "seven hundred chosen men" who were "left-handed" and possessed unerring accuracy with the sling ("at an hair breadth, and not miss") serves a critical literary and theological purpose. It fully explains the surprising initial victories of the smaller Benjamite army against the overwhelming numbers of the united Israelite tribes. This detail highlights that Benjamin's defiance was not merely stubbornness but was backed by considerable, disciplined military might. However, this verse also sets the stage for a profound divine lesson: even the most skilled and fearsome human warriors cannot stand against God's judgment when a people's sin is great. The physical precision of these slingers ironically contrasts with the profound moral deviation that brought judgment upon their tribe, illustrating that ultimate victory is not by human strength but by the Lord's will.