Judges 20:1-21 ▼

1 Then all the Israelites (God prevails) from Dan (He has judged) to Beersheba (well of seven) and from the land of Gilead (rocky region) came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD {YHWH} at Mizpah (watchtower).

2 The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God) presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.

3 (Meanwhile the Benjamites (son of the right hand) heard that the Israelites (God prevails) had gone up to Mizpah (watchtower).) And the Israelites asked, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?”

4 So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: “I and my concubine came to Gibeah (hill) in Benjamin (son of the right hand) to spend the night.

5 And during the night, the men of Gibeah (hill) rose up against me and surrounded the house. They intended to kill me, but they abused my concubine, and she died.

6 Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s (he wrestles with God) inheritance, because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.

7 Behold, all you⁺ Israelites (God prevails), give your⁺ advice and verdict here and now.”

8 Then all the people stood as one man and said, “Not one of us will return to his tent or to his house.

9 Now this is what we will do to Gibeah (hill): We will go against it as the lot dictates.

10 We will take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God), and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to supply provisions for the army when they go to Gibeah [Geba, a variant of Gibeah] in Benjamin (son of the right hand) to punish them for the atrocity they have committed in Israel.”

11 So all the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) gathered as one man, united against the city.

12 And the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God) sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin (son of the right hand), saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you⁺?

13 Hand over the wicked men of Gibeah (hill) so we can put them to death and purge Israel (he wrestles with God) of this evil.” But the Benjamites (son of the right hand) refused to heed the voice of their fellow Israelites.

14 And from their cities they (son of the right hand) came together at Gibeah (hill) to go out and fight against the Israelites (God prevails).

15 On that day the Benjamites (son of the right hand) mobilized 26,000 swordsmen from their cities, in addition to the 700 select men of Gibeah (hill).

16 Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing.

17 The Israelites (God prevails), apart from Benjamin (son of the right hand), mobilized 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior.

18 The Israelites (God prevails) set out, went up to Bethel (house of God), and inquired of God {Elohim}, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites (son of the right hand)?” “Judah will be first (praised),” the LORD {YHWH} replied.

19 The next morning the Israelites (God prevails) set out and camped near Gibeah (hill).

20 And the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) went out to fight against Benjamin (son of the right hand) and took up their battle positions at Gibeah (hill).

21 And the Benjamites (son of the right hand) came out of Gibeah (hill) and cut down 22,000 Israelites (God prevails) on the battlefield that day.