Judges 20:1
New International Version
Then all Israel from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came together as one and assembled before the LORD in Mizpah.

New Living Translation
Then all the Israelites were united as one man, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, including those from across the Jordan in the land of Gilead. The entire community assembled in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.

English Standard Version
Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah.

Berean Standard Bible
Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.

King James Bible
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

New King James Version
So all the children of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, as well as from the land of Gilead, and the congregation gathered together as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.

New American Standard Bible
Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one person to the LORD at Mizpah.

NASB 1995
Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah.

NASB 1977
Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to Yahweh at Mizpah.

Amplified Bible
Then all the sons of Israel from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], including the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah.

Christian Standard Bible
All the Israelites from Dan to Beer-sheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the community assembled as one body before the LORD at Mizpah.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All the Israelites from Dan to Beer-sheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the community assembled as one body before the LORD at Mizpah.

American Standard Version
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah at Mizpah.

English Revised Version
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD at Mizpah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All the people of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and from Gilead came to Mizpah. The congregation stood united in the presence of the LORD.

Good News Translation
All the people of Israel from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, as well as from the land of Gilead in the east, answered the call. They gathered in one body in the LORD's presence at Mizpah.

International Standard Version
Then the entire Israeli nation—from Dan to Beer-sheba, including the territory of Gilead—came out for war. The army assembled as one united force to God at Mizpah.

Majority Standard Bible
Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.

NET Bible
All the Israelites from Dan to Beer Sheba and from the land of Gilead left their homes and assembled together before the LORD at Mizpah.

New Heart English Bible
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to the LORD at Mizpah.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, to the LORD in Mizpeh.

World English Bible
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to Yahweh at Mizpah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And all the sons of Israel go out, and the congregation is assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beer-Sheba, and the land of Gilead, to YHWH, at Mizpeh.

Young's Literal Translation
And all the sons of Israel go out, and the company is assembled as one man, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, and the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah, at Mizpeh.

Smith's Literal Translation
And all the sons of Israel will go forth, and the assembly will be gathered together as one man, from Dan even to the Well of the Oath, and the land of Gilead to Jehovah to Mizpeh.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then all the children of Israel went out and gathered together as one man from Dan to Bersabee, with the land of Galaad, to the Lord in Maspha:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so all the sons of Israel went out like one man, from Dan to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, and they gathered together, before the Lord, at Mizpah.

New American Bible
So all the Israelites came out as one, from Dan to Beer-sheba including the land of Gilead, and the assembly gathered to the LORD at Mizpah.

New Revised Standard Version
Then all the Israelites came out, from Dan to Beer-sheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled in one body before the LORD at Mizpah.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THEN all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation gathered together as one man from Dan to Beer-sheba, to the land of Gilead, to the LORD in Mizpeh.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And all the sons of Israel went out and they assembled all of the assembly as one man, from Dan and unto Beersheba unto the land of Galad, before LORD JEHOVAH in Mazpaya
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD at Mizpah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And all the children of Israel went out, and all the congregation was gathered as one man, from Dan even to Bersabee, and in the land of Galaad, to the Lord at Massepha.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Decree of the Assembly
1Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah. 2The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.…

Cross References
Judges 21:5
The Israelites asked, “Who among all the tribes of Israel did not come to the assembly before the LORD?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah would surely be put to death.

Judges 19:29-30
When he reached his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. / And everyone who saw it said, “Nothing like this has been seen or done from the day the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt until this day. Think it over, take counsel, and speak up!”

1 Samuel 11:7
He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out together as one man.

1 Samuel 7:5-6
Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.” / When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

1 Samuel 10:17
After this, Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah

2 Samuel 19:14
So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.”

Joshua 22:12
And when they heard this, the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them.

Deuteronomy 13:12-18
If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said / that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known), / then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you, ...

1 Kings 8:1
At that time Solomon assembled before him in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David.

2 Chronicles 30:1
Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel.

Nehemiah 8:1
At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

Ezra 3:1
By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns, and the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.

Hosea 10:9
Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not the battle in Gibeah overtake the sons of iniquity?

Matthew 18:20
For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”

Acts 15:6
So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.


Treasury of Scripture

Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to the LORD in Mizpeh.

Then all

Judges 20:2,8,11
And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword…

Judges 21:5
And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.

Deuteronomy 13:12
If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,

as one man

1 Samuel 11:7,8
And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent…

2 Samuel 19:14
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

Ezra 3:1
And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

from Dan

Judges 18:29
And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.

1 Samuel 3:20
And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.

2 Samuel 3:10
To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

with the

Numbers 32:1,40
Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; …

Joshua 17:1
There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.

2 Samuel 2:9
And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

unto the

Judges 20:18,26
And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first…

Judges 11:11
Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

in Mizpeh

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Arms Assembled Beersheba Beer-Sheba Children Congregation Dan Including Israel Israelites Mizpah Mizpeh Together
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Arms Assembled Beersheba Beer-Sheba Children Congregation Dan Including Israel Israelites Mizpah Mizpeh Together
Judges 20
1. The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong
8. The decree of the assembly
12. The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites
18. The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand
26. They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred.














Then all the Israelites
This phrase signifies a unified response from the entire nation of Israel. The Hebrew word for "all" (כָּל, kol) emphasizes the totality and inclusiveness of the tribes. Historically, this unity is significant as it shows a collective consciousness and shared identity among the tribes, which was often challenged by internal divisions. The Israelites coming together reflects a moment of national solidarity, driven by a common cause or crisis.

from Dan to Beersheba
This expression is a merism, a figure of speech that uses two extremes to indicate the whole. Dan was located in the far north of Israel, while Beersheba was in the southernmost part. This phrase underscores the comprehensive nature of the gathering, indicating that representatives from the entire land of Israel were present. It highlights the geographical breadth of the nation and the widespread concern that prompted this assembly.

and from the land of Gilead
Gilead was a region east of the Jordan River, known for its balm and rugged terrain. Mentioning Gilead alongside Dan and Beersheba emphasizes the inclusion of the Transjordan tribes, showing that the call to assemble transcended geographical barriers. This reflects the unity of the Israelites not just within the traditional boundaries of Canaan but also in the territories beyond the Jordan.

came out as one
The phrase "as one" (כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד, ke'ish echad) conveys a powerful image of unity and singular purpose. In the Hebrew context, this unity is not merely physical but also spiritual and emotional. It suggests a collective resolve and shared commitment to address the issue at hand. This unity is crucial in the biblical narrative, as it often precedes significant actions or decisions by the nation.

and the congregation assembled
The term "congregation" (עֵדָה, edah) refers to the assembly of the people, often used in the context of a formal gathering for decision-making or worship. This assembly is not just a casual meeting but a solemn gathering with a purpose. Historically, such assemblies were central to Israelite society, serving as a means for communal decision-making and covenant renewal.

before the LORD
This phrase indicates that the assembly was held in a religious context, acknowledging the presence and authority of God. The Hebrew term for "before" (לִפְנֵי, lifnei) implies being in the presence of or standing before someone of higher authority. This setting underscores the theocratic nature of Israelite society, where God was recognized as the ultimate judge and leader.

at Mizpah
Mizpah, meaning "watchtower" in Hebrew, was a significant site for gatherings and covenant renewals. It served as a strategic location for assemblies due to its elevated position, which provided a natural vantage point. Archaeologically, Mizpah is identified with several sites, but its exact location is debated. Historically, it was a place where Israel sought divine guidance and made critical decisions, reinforcing the solemnity of the assembly described in this verse.

(1) The congregation was gathered together.--This phrase is one which was familiar to the Israelites in the desert. It disappears after the days of Solomon (1Kings 12:20).

From Dan even to Beer-sheba.--This expression would be like "from John o' Groat's house to Land's End "for England and Scotland (1Samuel 3:18; 1Samuel 17:11, &c.). Unless it be added by an anachronism, because it had become familiar when the Book of Judges was written, we should certainly infer from it that, early as were these events, they were subsequent to the migratory raid of the tribe of Dan to Laish.

With the land of Gilead.--The Trans-Jordanic tribes obeyed the summons, with the exception of the town of Jabesh-Gilead.

Unto the Lord.--See Note on Judges 11:11. There is not, however, the same difficulty in supposing that the ark and Urim was taken to this Mizpeh, for we see in Judges 20:27 that it was taken to Bethel. . . .

Verse 1. - Went out, i.e. from their several homes to the place of meeting. The congregation. The technical term (not, however, found in Samuel and Kings, except in 1 Kings 12:20) for the whole Israelitish people (Exodus 12:3; Exodus 16:1, 2, 9; Leviticus 4:15; Joshua 18:1, etc.). From Dan to Beersheba. Dan, or Laish (Judges 18:29), being the northernmost point, and Beersheba (now Bir-es-saba, the springs so called) in the south of Judah the southernmost. It cannot be inferred with certainty from this expression that the Danite occupation of Laish had taken place at this time, though it may have done so, because we do not know when this narrative was written, and the phrase is only used as a proverbial expression familiar in the writer's time. The land of Gilead. In its widest sense, meaning the whole of trans-Jordanic Israel (see Judges 10:8; Judges 11:1, etc.). Mizpeh, or, as it is always written in Hebrew, ham-Mizpeh, with the article (see Judges 21:1). The Mizpeh here mentioned is not the same as the Mizpeh of Judges 10:17; Judges 11:11, 29, 34, which was in Gilead, but was situated in the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:26). That it was a national place of meeting in the time of Samuel is clear from 1 Samuel 7:5-12, and we learn from ver. 16 of that same chapter that it was one of the places to which Samuel went on circuit. We find it a place of national meeting also in 1 Samuel 10:17, and even so late as 2 Kings 25:23, and in the time of the Maccabees (1 Macc. 3:46). Its vicinity to Shiloh, where the tabernacle was, was probably one reason why it was made a centre to the whole congregation (see especially 1 Samuel 10:17, 22, 25). Its exact site is not known with certainty, but it is thought to be that of Nebi Samuil, from which Jerusalem is seen at about two hours' distance to the south-east. Unto the Lord, i.e. in the presence of the tabernacle, which was doubtless brought there, on so solemn an occasion, from Shiloh (cf. Exodus 34:34; Leviticus 1:3; Judges 11:11; Judges 21:2, and ver. 26 of this chapter).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the Israelites
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

from Dan
לְמִדָּן֙ (lə·mid·dān)
Preposition-l, Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1835: Dan -- 'judge', a son of Jacob, also a place in Northern Israel

to
וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

Beersheba
שֶׁ֔בַע (še·ḇa‘)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 884: Beersheba -- 'well of seven', a place in the Negev

and from the land
וְאֶ֖רֶץ (wə·’e·reṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Gilead
הַגִּלְעָ֑ד (hag·gil·‘āḏ)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1568: Gilead -- a region in Palestine, also the name of several Israelites

came out,
וַיֵּצְאוּ֮ (way·yê·ṣə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

and the congregation
הָעֵדָ֜ה (hā·‘ê·ḏāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5712: A stated assemblage

assembled
וַתִּקָּהֵ֨ל (wat·tiq·qā·hêl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6950: To gather as an assembly or congregation

as one
אֶחָ֗ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

man
כְּאִ֣ישׁ (kə·’îš)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

before
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

at Mizpah.
הַמִּצְפָּֽה׃ (ham·miṣ·pāh)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4709: Mizpah -- the name of several places in Israel


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OT History: Judges 20:1 Then all the children of Israel went (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 19:30
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