Judges 20:9

9 This is what we will do: we will draw lots and choose some men to attack Gibeah.

Judges 20:9 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 20:9

But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah,
&c.] Where the fact was done; what follows was proposed by some, and unanimously agreed to by all:

we will go up by lot against it;
cast lots who shall go up to it and demand satisfaction for the offence committed; and if denied, to act in an hostile manner against it.

Judges 20:9 In-Context

7 All of you here are Israelites. What are we going to do about this?"
8 All the people stood up together and said, "None of us, whether he lives in a tent or in a house, will go home.
9 This is what we will do: we will draw lots and choose some men to attack Gibeah.
10 One tenth of the men in Israel will provide food for the army, and the others will go and punish Gibeah for this immoral act that they have committed in Israel."
11 So all the men in Israel assembled with one purpose - to attack the town.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [One ancient translation] to attack Gibeah; [Hebrew] to Gibeah.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.