Judges 20:1-6

1 Then all the children of Yisra'el went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Be'er-Sheva, with the land of Gil`ad, to the LORD at Mitzpah.

2 The chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Yisra'el, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew sword.

3 (Now the children of Binyamin heard that the children of Yisra'el had gone up to Mitzpah.) The children of Yisra'el said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?

4 The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, I came into Gevah that belongs to Binyamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

5 The men of Gevah rose against me, and beset the house round about me by night; me they thought to have slain, and my concubine they forced, and she is dead.

6 I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Yisra'el; for they have committed lewdness and folly in Yisra'el.

Judges 20:1-6 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.