New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Judges 20
1
Then all of the people of Israel came out. They came from the whole land between Dan and Beersheba. They also came from the land of Gilead. All of them gathered together in the sight of the Lord at Mizpah.
Reference
📍 Mizpah 3
References Israel
Joshua 22:12
2 Samuel 3:10
2 Samuel 24:2
References Lord
Judges 11:11
1 Samuel 3:20
1 Samuel 10:17
Judges 21:5
Nehemiah 8:1
2
The leaders of all of the tribes of Israel came. They took their places among the people of God who were gathered together. There were 400,000 fighting men who were carrying swords.
Reference
3
The tribe of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah. The people of Israel said, "Tell us how that awful thing happened."
📍 Mizpah 3
4
So the Levite spoke. He was the husband of the woman who had been murdered. He said, "I and my concubine went to Gibeah in Benjamin. We spent the night there.
5
During the night the men of Gibeah came after me. They surrounded the house. They were planning to kill me. They raped my concubine, and she died.
Reference
Parallel theme
Judges 19:22
6
"I took my concubine and cut her into pieces. I sent one piece to each part of Israel's territory. I did it because they had done a very terrible thing in Israel.
Reference
7
All of you men of Israel, speak up now. Give your decision."
Reference
References Israel
Judges 19:30
8
All of the men got up together. They said, "None of us will go home. Not one of us will return to his house.
Reference
9
Here is what we'll do to Gibeah. We'll use lots to tell us how to attack the city.
10
We'll take ten men out of every 100 from all of the tribes of Israel. We'll take 100 from every 1,000. We'll take 1,000 from every 10,000. The men we take will get supplies for the army. Then the army will go to Gibeah in Benjamin. They'll give Gibeah exactly what they should get because of the evil thing they did in Israel."
11
So all of the men of Israel came together to fight against the city.
12
The tribes of Israel sent men through the whole tribe of Benjamin. They said, "What about this awful crime that was committed among you?
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 13:14
13
Hand over those evil men of Gibeah. We'll put them to death. In that way we'll get rid of those evil people." But the people of Benjamin wouldn't listen to the other people of Israel.
Reference
14
They came together at Gibeah from their towns. They came to fight against the other people of Israel.
15
Right away the people of Benjamin gathered together 26,000 men from their towns. They were carrying swords. The men were added to the 700 who had been chosen from those who were living in Gibeah.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:41
16
Among all of those men there were 700 who were left-handed. Each of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
Reference
17
Israel gathered 400,000 men together. They were carrying swords. All of them were fighting men. That number didn't include the tribe of Benjamin.
18
The people of Israel went up to Bethel. There they spoke to God. They asked him, "Who will go up first and fight for us against the people of Benjamin?" The Lord answered, "The tribe of Judah will go first."
Reference
References God
Joel 1:14
Judges 18:31
References Israel
Joshua 18:1
Judges 20:7
References Lord
Numbers 27:21
Judges 20:23
Joshua 9:14
Numbers 27:5
Judges 19:18
19
The next morning the people of Israel got up. They set up camp near Gibeah.
20
The men of Israel went out to fight against the men of Benjamin. They took up their battle positions against them at Gibeah.
21
The men of Benjamin came out of Gibeah. They killed 22,000 men of Israel on the field of battle that day.
Reference
References Israel
Judges 20:25
22
But the men of Israel cheered each other on. They again took up their positions in the places where they had been the first day.
23
The men of Israel went and sobbed in the sight of the Lord until evening. They spoke to the Lord. They asked, "Should we go up again to fight against the men of Benjamin? They are our fellow Israelites." The Lord answered, "Go up and fight against them."
Reference
24
The men of Israel came near the men of Benjamin on the second day.
25
The men of Benjamin came out from Gibeah to oppose them. That time they killed 18,000 more men of Israel. All of the men who died had been carrying swords.
Reference
References Israel
Judges 20:21
26
Then all of the people of Israel went up to Bethel. They sat there and sobbed in the sight of the Lord. They didn't eat anything that day until evening. Then they brought burnt offerings and friendship offerings to the Lord.
Reference
27
Again the people of Israel spoke to the Lord. In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there.
Reference
28
Phinehas was serving as priest at the ark. He was the son of Eleazar. Eleazar was the son of Aaron. The people of Israel asked, "Should we go up again to fight against the men of Benjamin? They are our fellow Israelites." The Lord answered, "Go. Tomorrow I will hand them over to you."
Reference
29
Then Israel hid some men and had them wait all around Gibeah.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 8:4
30
They went up to fight against the men of Benjamin on the third day. They took up their positions against Gibeah, just as they had done before.
31
The men of Benjamin came out to fight against them. They were drawn away from the city. They began to wound and kill the men of Israel just as they had done before. About 30 men fell in battle. They fell in the open fields and on the roads. One of the roads led to Bethel. The other led to Gibeah.
32
The men of Benjamin said, "We're winning the battle over them, just as we did before." But the men of Israel said, "Let's pull back. Let's draw them away from the city to the roads."
33
All of the men of Israel moved away from their places. They took up new battle positions at Baal Tamar. The men who had been hiding charged out. They came from west of Gibeah.
📍 Locations
34
Then 10,000 of Israel's finest men attacked Gibeah. The men of Benjamin didn't realize they were about to be destroyed. The fighting was very heavy.
Reference
35
The Lord helped Israel win the battle over Benjamin. On that day the men of Israel struck down 25,100 men of Benjamin. All of the men who died had been carrying swords.
Reference
Parallel theme
Job 20:5
36
Then the men of Benjamin saw that they had lost the battle. The men of Israel had moved away from their positions in front of Benjamin. They had depended on the men they had hidden near Gibeah.
37
Suddenly the men who had been hiding rushed into Gibeah. They spread out. Then they killed everyone in the city with their swords.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 8:19
38
The men of Israel had made a plan with those who had been hiding. They had told them to send up a large cloud of smoke from the city.
39
Then the men of Israel would turn around and attack. The men of Benjamin had begun to wound and kill the men of Israel. They had struck down about 30 of them. They had said, "We're winning the battle over them, just as we did the first time."
Reference
References Israel
Judges 20:32
40
But a column of smoke began to go up from the city. The men of Benjamin turned around. They saw the smoke of the whole city going up into the sky.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 8:20
41
Then the men of Israel turned around and attacked them. The men of Benjamin were terrified. They realized they were going to be destroyed.
42
So they ran away from the men of Israel. They ran toward the desert. But they couldn't escape the battle. Other men of Israel came out of the towns. There they struck the men of Benjamin down.
43
They surrounded them. They chased them and easily caught up with them. That happened east of Gibeah.
📍 Nohah
44
So 18,000 men of Benjamin fell in battle. All of them were brave fighters.
45
Some men of Benjamin turned back. They ran toward the desert to the rock of Rimmon. As they did, the men of Israel struck down 5,000 of them along the roads. They kept chasing the men of Benjamin all the way to Gidom. Along the way they struck down 2,000 more.
Reference
📍 Locations
46
On that day 25,000 men of Benjamin fell in battle. They had been carrying swords. All of them were brave fighters.
47
But 600 men turned back. They ran into the desert to the rock of Rimmon. They stayed there for four months.
📍 Rimmon 1
48
The men of Israel went back to Benjamin. They killed the people in all of the towns with their swords. They even killed the animals. So they killed everything they found. They set on fire all of the towns they came to.
Summary of Judges 20
Judges chapter 20 continues the gruesome story started in Gibeah. Following the Levite cutting up his concubine and distributing her body parts throughout Israel, the tribes get together to discuss what action to take and how to respond. The Israelites demand that the men of Benjamin turn over those responsible for the Levite's wife's murder, but Benjamin refuses and war breaks out between the tribes of Israel.
The Israelites assemble at Mizpeh where men come from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south and also the tribes on the east of the Jordan River. The entire assembly realizes the gravity of what has occurred and what action needs to be taken.
They meet together as the one people of Israel before the Lord. The tribes demand that the Levite relate what has occurred, and he narrates the events occurring in Gibeah and the treatment of himself and his concubine there. The men of Israel are appalled at the account and unanimously decide that the tribe of Benjamin must deliver up the men responsible for this outrage so that they might be dealt with accordingly.
The men of Israel then send messengers to all the tribes of Benjamin demanding that they deliver up the men responsible for the Levite's wife's murder. Yet Benjamin refuses to comply and instead readies their warriors for battle.
The Israelites are appalled that Benjamin would protect the men responsible for such an abhorrent act and they raise up an army of 400,000 men, all of whom are skilled in using the sword. The tribe of Benjamin musters up 26,000 men from their cities and 700 left-handed men from Gibeah who are expert with a sling, who are able to hurl stones accurately.
Before engaging in battle, the Israelites seek the Lord at Bethel inquiring which tribe should lead the attack. God instructs them to send Judah.
The Israelites proceed to Gibeah, but suffer defeat at the hands of the Benjaminites. Not only does the attack fail, but the Israelites lose 22,000 of their men at the hands of the Benjaminites. The Israelites retreat, but rally to their standards and prepare to attack again.
Again the Israelites attack Gibeah, but again the Benjaminites come out and slay 18,000 Israelites leaving the Israelites in despair. The Israelites return to Bethel and before the Lord they fast and pray and make burnt offerings and sacrifices. They inquire of the Lord if they should again attack the Benjaminites, and the Lord responds telling them to go up and attack Benjamin.
This time the Israelites use a different tactic surrounding the city of Gibeah and laying an ambush for the Benjaminites. When the Israelites attack, the Benjaminites again slay 22,000 Israelites, but then realizing they have suffered losses, they begin to retreat believing the Israelites to have suffered grievous losses as well. Yet the Israelites pursue the retreating Benjaminites drawing them away from Gibeah.
The Israelites who had been lying in wait then rush in and set the city of Gibeah on fire killing all those who had not already perished. The smoke arising from the burning city signaled the Israelites that Gibeah had fallen. The Benjaminites realizing this turn and see the smoke from behind and are appalled at the sight and the Israelites completely surround them cutting them off from the city.
The Israelites cut down many Benjaminites, but the survivors escape to the wilderness. The chapter records the number of Benjaminites slain that day to be 25,000 men. Of the 600 men left alive, they escape to the rock of Rimmon and remain there for four months.
The Israelites then go through the cities of Benjamin killing all the people they find and destroying their animals and whatever else they find. The chapter concludes with a record of the Israelites setting these cities on fire.
Judges chapter 20 reveals the potential that an awful crime can bring about an awful national tragedy. The tribes of Israel were right to take action over what had occurred in Gibeah, but the Israelites' response was to fight amongst themselves rather than an external enemy. The Levite and his concubine were the victims of an abhorrent attack from the men of Gibeah. Yet, in trying to avenge this, not only the Levite but all Israel are victimized.
Although the Israelites do the right thing in bringing judgment upon Gibeah, their actions result in a devastating war between the other tribes of Israel. The chapter reveals the importance of consulting with God, for although the Israelites consult with Him, the first two engagements are disastrous, but through more prayer and fasting and offerings they are able to find direction and a successful tactic.
Yet, although it reveals this, Judges chapter 20 does not revel a national victory. This is primarily because Benjamin is nearly annihilated, but also because all Israel suffer greatly with thousands dying and towns being destroyed. Although Gibeah has been judged, all twelve tribes have suffered.
The repeated reminder of the lack of a king in Israel becomes even more pertinent here for it becomes apparent Israel has no centralized authority capable of handling this type of crisis effectively. The tribes of Israel have all been united under a common enemy, but the conflict between them becomes even more serious. The whole nation has been placed in a precarious position and the divisions revealed in the final chapters of Judges have resulted in a civil war.
The final six hundred men of Benjamin will become significant in the next chapter, but as far as the rest of the Israelites are concerned, not only have they judged Gibeah, but they have nearly annihilated one of their own tribes. In short, Judges chapter 20 ends with Israel triumphant on the battlefield but with the rest of Israel facing a serious crisis as they vow to keep Benjamin's men as their servants. Chapter 21 continues the story by describing how the Israelites will maintain the Benjaminite tribe after nearly decimating it.
The Israelites assemble at Mizpeh where men come from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south and also the tribes on the east of the Jordan River. The entire assembly realizes the gravity of what has occurred and what action needs to be taken.
They meet together as the one people of Israel before the Lord. The tribes demand that the Levite relate what has occurred, and he narrates the events occurring in Gibeah and the treatment of himself and his concubine there. The men of Israel are appalled at the account and unanimously decide that the tribe of Benjamin must deliver up the men responsible for this outrage so that they might be dealt with accordingly.
The men of Israel then send messengers to all the tribes of Benjamin demanding that they deliver up the men responsible for the Levite's wife's murder. Yet Benjamin refuses to comply and instead readies their warriors for battle.
The Israelites are appalled that Benjamin would protect the men responsible for such an abhorrent act and they raise up an army of 400,000 men, all of whom are skilled in using the sword. The tribe of Benjamin musters up 26,000 men from their cities and 700 left-handed men from Gibeah who are expert with a sling, who are able to hurl stones accurately.
Before engaging in battle, the Israelites seek the Lord at Bethel inquiring which tribe should lead the attack. God instructs them to send Judah.
The Israelites proceed to Gibeah, but suffer defeat at the hands of the Benjaminites. Not only does the attack fail, but the Israelites lose 22,000 of their men at the hands of the Benjaminites. The Israelites retreat, but rally to their standards and prepare to attack again.
Again the Israelites attack Gibeah, but again the Benjaminites come out and slay 18,000 Israelites leaving the Israelites in despair. The Israelites return to Bethel and before the Lord they fast and pray and make burnt offerings and sacrifices. They inquire of the Lord if they should again attack the Benjaminites, and the Lord responds telling them to go up and attack Benjamin.
This time the Israelites use a different tactic surrounding the city of Gibeah and laying an ambush for the Benjaminites. When the Israelites attack, the Benjaminites again slay 22,000 Israelites, but then realizing they have suffered losses, they begin to retreat believing the Israelites to have suffered grievous losses as well. Yet the Israelites pursue the retreating Benjaminites drawing them away from Gibeah.
The Israelites who had been lying in wait then rush in and set the city of Gibeah on fire killing all those who had not already perished. The smoke arising from the burning city signaled the Israelites that Gibeah had fallen. The Benjaminites realizing this turn and see the smoke from behind and are appalled at the sight and the Israelites completely surround them cutting them off from the city.
The Israelites cut down many Benjaminites, but the survivors escape to the wilderness. The chapter records the number of Benjaminites slain that day to be 25,000 men. Of the 600 men left alive, they escape to the rock of Rimmon and remain there for four months.
The Israelites then go through the cities of Benjamin killing all the people they find and destroying their animals and whatever else they find. The chapter concludes with a record of the Israelites setting these cities on fire.
Judges chapter 20 reveals the potential that an awful crime can bring about an awful national tragedy. The tribes of Israel were right to take action over what had occurred in Gibeah, but the Israelites' response was to fight amongst themselves rather than an external enemy. The Levite and his concubine were the victims of an abhorrent attack from the men of Gibeah. Yet, in trying to avenge this, not only the Levite but all Israel are victimized.
Although the Israelites do the right thing in bringing judgment upon Gibeah, their actions result in a devastating war between the other tribes of Israel. The chapter reveals the importance of consulting with God, for although the Israelites consult with Him, the first two engagements are disastrous, but through more prayer and fasting and offerings they are able to find direction and a successful tactic.
Yet, although it reveals this, Judges chapter 20 does not revel a national victory. This is primarily because Benjamin is nearly annihilated, but also because all Israel suffer greatly with thousands dying and towns being destroyed. Although Gibeah has been judged, all twelve tribes have suffered.
The repeated reminder of the lack of a king in Israel becomes even more pertinent here for it becomes apparent Israel has no centralized authority capable of handling this type of crisis effectively. The tribes of Israel have all been united under a common enemy, but the conflict between them becomes even more serious. The whole nation has been placed in a precarious position and the divisions revealed in the final chapters of Judges have resulted in a civil war.
The final six hundred men of Benjamin will become significant in the next chapter, but as far as the rest of the Israelites are concerned, not only have they judged Gibeah, but they have nearly annihilated one of their own tribes. In short, Judges chapter 20 ends with Israel triumphant on the battlefield but with the rest of Israel facing a serious crisis as they vow to keep Benjamin's men as their servants. Chapter 21 continues the story by describing how the Israelites will maintain the Benjaminite tribe after nearly decimating it.