Judges 20 2

Judges 20:2 kjv

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.

Judges 20:2 nkjv

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.

Judges 20:2 niv

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.

Judges 20:2 esv

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.

Judges 20:2 nlt

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.

Judges 20 verses

Judges 20 2 Meaning

Judges 20:2 describes the swift and overwhelming response of the Israelite tribes to the outrage in Gibeah. It portrays a unified and immense gathering of Israel's leadership and its formidable military force. The "chiefs" of all the tribes convened in a formal "assembly of the people of God," emphasizing their covenant identity and shared responsibility before God. This grand muster amounted to "four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword," signifying the vast strength and readiness of the assembled tribes to execute justice against a grievous sin within their own community.

Judges 20 2 Context

Judges chapter 20 takes place immediately after the horrifying incident in Gibeah, detailed in chapter 19. A Levite's concubine was brutally abused, leading to her death. The Levite dismembered her body into twelve pieces and sent them throughout Israel as an appeal for justice and action against such depravity. This gruesome act served as a call for the decentralized tribes of Israel to unite and address the great evil committed by the men of Benjamin in Gibeah. Judges 20:2 describes the initial, overwhelming response to this plea, highlighting the solidarity of the tribes (except Benjamin) in condemning this egregious sin and their resolve to enforce moral and covenantal order. It signifies a moment where the "people of God" collectively recognize and prepare to act against an internal corruption that threatened their very identity. This assembly is significant in the period of Judges, often characterized by disunity, because it shows a rare instance of all Israel acting together for a common cause, albeit a tragic one involving civil war.

Judges 20 2 Word analysis

• And the chief of all the people: ro'sh kol ha'am (רֹאשׁ כָּל־הָעָם).

  • ro'sh: "head," "chief," "leader." Signifies not merely common people but those holding authority and responsibility for their respective tribes and clans. This indicates an organized, deliberate response involving leadership.
  • kol ha'am: "all the people." Emphasizes the inclusivity and widespread nature of the response, signifying nearly universal agreement among the tribes of Israel to address the abomination.

• even of all the tribes of Israel: v'kol shivtei Yisrael (וְכֹל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל).

  • v'kol: "and all," further reiterating the completeness.
  • shivtei Yisrael: "tribes of Israel." Highlights the distinct tribal structure of Israel but also their unity for this specific purpose. This unity is crucial given the often-divided state of Israel during the Judges period.

• presented themselves: yitvayatsu (יִתְיַצְּבוּ).

  • Root yatzav: "to stand," "to place oneself," "to present oneself." Implies an intentional, determined, and perhaps military-style standing. It denotes their presence with a purpose and readiness for action, not a casual gathering. This term can have a judicial or martial connotation.

• in the assembly: baqahal (בַּקָּהָל).

  • qahal: "assembly," "congregation," "company." More than just a crowd; it's a formal, summoned gathering, often with religious or national significance, functioning as a representative body of the covenant people. It underscores the gravity and legitimacy of the proceedings, aligning their action with divine purpose.

• of the people of God: am ha'Elohim (עַם הָאֱלֹהִים).

  • am ha'Elohim: A profoundly significant phrase. It refers to Israel as God's chosen, covenant people, set apart to live according to His laws. Their gathering as the "people of God" implies their actions are intended to uphold God's justice and moral order, responding not just to a crime but to an offense against the covenant community and God Himself. This phrase imbues the assembly with sacred authority and responsibility.

• four hundred thousand footmen: arba' me'ot elef ragli (אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף רַגְלִי).

  • arba' me'ot elef: "four hundred thousand." A very large number for an ancient military muster. While potentially literal (suggesting immense collective power and demographic strength), scholars also debate whether it is a round, hyperbolic number to emphasize the overwhelming numerical superiority and the severity with which the other tribes viewed Benjamin's transgression. It signifies a massive, virtually unanimous condemnation.
  • ragli: "footmen," infantry. Specifies the type of soldier, indicating a land army prepared for ground combat.

• that drew sword: moshech cherev (מֹשֵׁךְ חֶרֶב).

  • moshech cherev: "drawing (a) sword." This phrase is a common biblical idiom to describe trained, combat-ready soldiers. It indicates not just presence, but active military preparation and readiness for battle, signaling their intent to engage in warfare.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves": This phrase highlights a national, unified response led by legitimate authorities. It underscores that this was not a rogue militia, but the organized, collective will of God's covenant people addressing an internal crisis. The extensive representation speaks to the magnitude of the affront.

• "in the assembly of the people of God": This specific description of the gathering places it within a divine context. It emphasizes that Israel, as God's own people, were congregating under divine oversight to render a decision that would either restore or further fracture their covenant relationship with God and each other. Their identity as "people of God" calls them to uphold His standards.

• "four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword": This powerful descriptive group details the formidable military might arrayed for vengeance. The sheer number signifies overwhelming force, unity of purpose, and the seriousness with which the rest of Israel perceived the act of wickedness. "Drew sword" implies their readiness for decisive, violent action.

Judges 20 2 Bonus section

The large number of "four hundred thousand" can be seen not just as a literal count of warriors but also symbolically representing the immense and universal condemnation felt by the other tribes against Benjamin's transgression. It emphasizes the collective moral outrage. This unification is notably strong for a period (Judges) characterized by "every man did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 21:25). The ability of the tribes to put aside their typical rivalries and unite against this internal sin highlights the severity of the offense—an attack on an Israelite family in the context of covenant violations—which was viewed as a sacrilege requiring corporate action to prevent further moral decay. The act of "drawing sword" signifies not just readiness for battle, but an initiation of "holy war" in a sense, where the internal purification of God's people is sought through violent means, similar to how God often commanded them to purge wicked peoples from the land. This assembly sets the stage for a tragic civil war that showcases both the strength and fragility of Israel's tribal confederacy before the establishment of a monarchy.

Judges 20 2 Commentary

Judges 20:2 vividly paints a picture of a nation stirred to its core. Following the Levite's appeal, Israel's decentralized tribal structure surprisingly coalesces into a singular, unified force. The gathering is presented not merely as a military muster but as a solemn assembly (qahal) of "the people of God," underscoring that this crisis touched upon their very covenant identity and moral foundations. The overwhelming number of "four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword" testifies to the widespread horror at the Gibeah atrocity and the unanimous resolve to purge evil from their midst, even if it meant confronting a fellow tribe. This verse establishes the scale and moral gravitas of the impending civil war, initiated by Israel's attempt to enforce justice and holiness in their midst, a task often neglected in the chaotic era of the Judges. It stands as a testament to the community's willingness to hold itself accountable to God's standards, albeit in a devastating way.