Judges 20 20

Judges 20:20 kjv

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.

Judges 20:20 nkjv

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.

Judges 20:20 niv

The Israelites went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah.

Judges 20:20 esv

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.

Judges 20:20 nlt

Then they advanced toward Gibeah to attack the men of Benjamin.

Judges 20 verses

Judges 20 20 Meaning

Judges 20:20 depicts the immediate and decisive military action taken by the gathered tribes of Israel against the tribe of Benjamin. Following the heinous crime committed in Gibeah, the collective "children of Israel" organized themselves for battle. This verse marks the physical onset of the first engagement in a tragic civil war, as Israel arrays itself for combat specifically against the Benjamites, targeting the stronghold where the initial offense occurred. It highlights their resolve to address the atrocity, initiating conflict as a unified body, at least in initial formation, against their own brethren.

Judges 20 20 Context

Judges chapter 20 is at the heart of the most shocking and tragic narrative in the Book of Judges, beginning in chapter 19. This period is notoriously described by the repeated phrase, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 17:6; 21:25). The immediate context leading to verse 20 is the "Gibeah Outrage," where a Levite's concubine was gang-raped and murdered by Benjamite men from Gibeah. The Levite dismembered her body and sent the twelve pieces throughout Israel, acting as a desperate summons for justice. The entire nation, enraged by the atrocity and Benjamin's refusal to surrender the culprits, assembled in Mizpah (Judg 20:1). After deliberating and preparing, this verse describes their movement towards the offending tribe. The historical context reflects a time of great moral degradation, tribal disunity despite nominal national identity, and a widespread failure to adhere to the Mosaic covenant. This internal conflict, nation against a tribe, exemplifies the chaos that resulted from Israel's abandonment of God's law and leadership.

Judges 20 20 Word analysis

• And the children of Israel: (Hebrew: וַיֵּצְאוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - vayyētze'ū b'nēi yiśrā'ēl)

  • וַיֵּצְאוּ (vayyētze'ū - "and they went out/forth"): Derived from the root yatza (יָצָא), meaning "to go out, to proceed." This signifies an intentional and decisive movement from their gathering place in Mizpah (Judg 20:1) towards the place of conflict. It is not a spontaneous riot but a prepared deployment.
  • בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (b'nēi yiśrā'ēl - "the children of Israel"): A foundational term in the Hebrew Bible, representing the unified nation, the descendants of Jacob. In this context, it explicitly means the eleven tribes gathered, united in their outrage and demand for justice, against one of their twelve brethren. It emphasizes the collective will and national response to the transgression.

• to battle against Benjamin: (Hebrew: לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל בִּנְיָמִן - lammilchāmāh ‘al Binyāmīn)

  • לַמִּלְחָמָה (lammilchāmāh - "to battle/war"): From milchamah (מִלְחָמָה), meaning "war, battle, conflict." The prefixed la- indicates "to" or "for the purpose of." It states the specific intent of their advance: a military engagement, not a negotiation or an investigation.
  • עַל בִּנְיָמִן (‘al Binyāmīn - "against Benjamin"): Benjamin is the youngest of Jacob's sons and a tribal name. The preposition al (עַל) indicates opposition, "against." This specifies the target: not an external enemy, but a brother tribe, underscoring the tragedy of this civil war within God's covenant people. The naming of the tribe here contrasts their collective identity as "Israel" with the specific tribe that broke covenant and fostered wickedness.

• and the children of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them in Gibeah: (Hebrew: וַיַּעַרְכוּ אִשָּׁה אֲלֵיהֶם גִּבְעָה - vayya‘arkhū ’īshāh ‘alēyhem Gîḇ‘āh)

  • וַיַּעַרְכוּ (vayya‘arkhū - "and they put themselves in array"): From the verb ararakh (עָרַךְ), meaning "to arrange, set in order, draw up in battle formation." This term denotes professional military preparation. It indicates a disciplined force lining up in specific formations for a frontal assault.
  • אִשָּׁה (’īshāh - "man/each man/themselves"): Though ish typically means "man," in contexts of military formation (often plural anashim or used idiomatically), it conveys that each warrior or unit took their place. Some interpretations render it as "they themselves" arranged or arrayed their forces.
  • אֲלֵיהֶם (‘alēyhem - "against them"): Referring back to Benjamin and the wicked men of Gibeah. It emphasizes the direct confrontation.
  • גִּבְעָה (Gîḇ‘āh - "in Gibeah"): Gibeah means "hill." It was a Benjamite city, Saul's hometown, and the very place where the atrocious crime occurred. Locating the battle in Gibeah indicates that the Israelites brought the conflict to the epicenter of the offense, aiming to cleanse the land of the evil perpetuated there. This detail is crucial for understanding the target and immediate objective of the battle.

Judges 20 20 Bonus section

The formation of the Israelite army against Benjamin at Gibeah foreshadows not only the initial defeat but also the near-annihilation of Benjamin, a powerful reminder of the destructive nature of sin and unaddressed wickedness within the community. The specific location of Gibeah, later known as the capital of King Saul (1 Sam 10:26), a Benjamite, subtly connects the seeds of disunity and self-will shown here to the problems faced by the monarchy's initial king. Furthermore, the meticulous act of "putting themselves in array" underscores the seriousness of the war to them, treating this internal conflict with the same military rigor they would an external threat, yet overlooking the spiritual guidance necessary for a divinely ordained victory. This civil strife was one of the lowest points in Israel's history before the monarchy, where their corporate identity fractured into conflict over issues that should have been resolved through internal legal processes or earlier divine intervention if Israel had walked faithfully.

Judges 20 20 Commentary

Judges 20:20 captures the initial and pivotal moment when the Israelite assembly translates its righteous indignation into military action. Having determined to confront Benjamin following their refusal to surrender the culprits, the combined tribes, identified as "the children of Israel," moved out and formed battle lines at Gibeah. This was a clear demonstration of their unified purpose to execute justice. However, while driven by righteous anger and the need to purge evil (as prescribed in Mosaic law), this verse precedes any explicit record of the initial consultation with God regarding this specific military engagement's strategy or outcome, only a general inquiry on who should go first (Judg 20:18). Their human resolve and military precision are emphasized, setting the stage for a civil war whose initial battles were shockingly disastrous for Israel. This tragic episode vividly illustrates the deep moral and spiritual decay of the Judges period: the terrible consequence of sin festering within the community and the catastrophic impact of brother fighting brother when divine guidance is either delayed or not fully sought. The scene is not one of victory, but of the ominous start of a profoundly painful internal conflict for the covenant people.