Judges 20

CHAPTER 20

Israelites Fight the Benjamites (20:1–48)

1–3 Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from Gilead—that is, all the tribes except Benjamin (verse 3)—met at Mizpah to discuss what they should do about the Benjamites of Gibeah⁷⁸ (Judges 19:22–26).

4–7 The Levite who had prompted the assembly (Judges 19:29) then recounted to the Israelites what had happened in Gibeah. Notice that his account was self serving; he didn’t mention that in order to save his own life he had sent his concubine out to be raped (Judges 19:25).

8–11 However, the Levite persuaded the assembly that the men of Gibeah should be punished. In this, the Israelites were following Moses’ instructions about punishing an idolatrous town (Deuteronomy 13:12–18); in their eyes, the vile behavior of the men of Gibeah was as bad as idolatry.

The Israelites said, “We will go against Gibeah as the lot directs” (verse 9). The casting of lots may have involved the use of the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30). Evidently the Israelites were looking for confirmation of their decision to attack Gibeah; after all, the city was inhabited by fellow Israelites. It was also decided at the assembly that ten percent of the fighting men should be assigned to gather provisions for the army (verse 10).

12–17 The Israelites first asked the leaders of the tribe of Benjamin to turn over to them the wicked men of Gibeah; they did not desire to punish the whole tribe but only those who were guilty. However, the Benjamites refused and instead made preparations to defend the city. The Benjamites were fierce fighters⁷⁹—as their ancestor Jacob had predicted (Genesis 49:27). Perhaps they thought they could defeat a force fifteen times the size of their own!

18–23 With warfare now inevitable, the Israelites went to Bethel to inquire of God.⁸⁰ Not only did they ask God to confirm their decision to attack but they also inquired who should lead the attack (verse 18). “Judah” was the answer (see Judges 1:1–2); this was appropriate since the murdered concubine had been from Judah (Judges 19:1).

But on the first day of battle, the Benjamites prevailed, killing thousands of Israelites. The Israelites were stunned. They again inquired of the Lord, and again the Lord told them to go into battle (verse 23).

24–28 On the second day, the battle went almost as badly for the Israelites as on the first day. This time the Israelites were sure something was wrong: Why wasn’t the Lord fighting for them? They wept and fasted and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings⁸¹ (see Leviticus 1:1–17; 3:1–17). Now they doubted whether or not they should continue to go against Gibeah; however, the Lord told them to go, and this time He assured them of victory (verse 28).

29–35 On the third day the Israelites employed a different strategy: they set an ambush of ten thousand men (verses 29,34). As the Benjamites were drawn out of Gibeah to confront the Israelites’ main force, the men in ambush captured the city. The Benjamites were demoralized and ended up losing almost all of their fighting force.

36–45 These verses give a more detailed account of the battle just described in verses 29–35. The turning point of the battle came when the Israelites waiting in ambush set the city on fire; the sight of the smoke threw the Benjamites into confusion (verses 40–41). With Israelites both in front of them and behind them, the Benjamites had no choice but to flee into the desert (verse 42).

46–48 On that third day, twenty-five thousand Benjamites died (verse 46); only six hundred survived⁸² (verse 47). The Israelites then went throughout the territory of Benjamin and killed all the people and animals they encountered and burned their towns. Since the Benjamites had not handed over the men of Gibeah in the beginning, the entire tribe ended up sharing in Gibeah’s punishment.