Judges 20:12-15

12 Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What is this wickedness that has taken place among you?

13 "Now then, deliver up the men, the ¹worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and ²remove this wickedness from Israel." But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel.

14 The sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the sons of Israel.

15 From the cities on that day the ³sons of Benjamin were numbered, 26,000 * men who draw the sword, besides * the inhabitants of Gibeah who were numbered, 700 * choice men.

Judges 20:12-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 20

This chapter relates, how that there was an assembly of the children of Israel at Mizpeh, upon what had happened to the concubine of the Levite, where he appeared and related the whole affair to them, Jud 20:1-7 upon which they unanimously agreed to chastise the inhabitants of Gibeah for what they had done, Jud 20:8-11, and in order to do that sent to the tribe of Benjamin to deliver the guilty, but instead of that they took to their arms, and prepared for battle in defence of them, Jud 20:12-17 and two battles ensued on this, in which the Israelites, who were on the right side of the question, were worsted, Jud 20:18-25 but upon their seeking the Lord again, and their humiliation before him, they engaged a third time in battle, and got an entire victory over the Benjaminites, and destroyed them all excepting six hundred men, Jud 20:26-48.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Corinthians 6:15
• 2. Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 17:12; 1 Corinthians 5:13
• 3. Numbers 1:36, 37; Numbers 2:23; Numbers 26:41

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "tribes"
• [b]. Lit "sons of Belial"
• [c]. Or "mustered"
• [d]. Or "mustered"