Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.
Read it in contextThe War Against Benjamin
Start reading at Judges 20:1 (Judges 20:1 to Judges 21:25).
The passage describes the entire conflict between the tribes of Israel and Benjamin, which begins in chapter 20 and concludes in chapter 21.
20:1Then 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.
20:2And 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.
20:3(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?
20:4And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
20:5And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.
20:6And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
20:7Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.
20:8And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house.
20:9But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;
20:10And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.
20:11So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
20:12And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?
20:13Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
20:14But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.
20:15And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
20:16Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.
20:17And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.
20:18And 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.
20:19And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
20:20And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.
20:21And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
20:22And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.
20:23(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)
20:24And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.
20:25And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.
20:26Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
20:27And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
20:28And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.
20:29And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.
20:30And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.
20:31And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
20:32And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.
20:33And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah.
20:34And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil was near them.
20:35And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.
20:36So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.
20:37And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.
20:38Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.
20:39And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.
20:40But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.
20:41And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.
20:42Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.
20:43Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.
20:44And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.
20:45And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.
20:46So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.
20:47But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.
20:48And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.
21:1Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
21:2And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;
21:3And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?
21:4And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
21:5And 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.
21:6And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
21:7How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?
21:8And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
21:9For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.
21:10And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.
21:11And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
21:12And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
21:13And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.
21:14And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.
21:15And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
21:16Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
21:17And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
21:18Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
21:19Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
21:20Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;
21:21And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
21:22And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.
21:23And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.
21:24And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.
21:25In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Samuel is the traditional Jewish attribution. The final writer cannot be identified with certainty; Samuel's name should therefore be given as a traditional answer, not a verified signature. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Judges 19:1–21:25): The Levite and his concubine, the men of Gibeah, the tribe of Benjamin, and the assembled tribes of Israel are involved in the outrage and subsequent civil conflict. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel, looking back on the period between Joshua and the monarchy. The repeated notice that Israel had no king addresses readers for whom that earlier situation needed explanation. Biblical references: Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25. book background
What
What is the main event or theme? The main event is the description of the exceptional skill of seven hundred chosen lefthanded men from the tribe of Benjamin, who could sling stones with extreme accuracy, not missing even a hair's breadth. This detail highlights the formidable nature of the Benjamite forces in the context of the war with the other tribes of Israel.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His sovereignty over the outcomes of battles, even when one side possesses highly skilled warriors. Despite the formidable ability of the Benjamite slingers, the LORD ultimately determines the victory, as He instructs Israel to go up to battle and promises to deliver Benjamin into their hand.
What is the literary style? The literary style is narrative history, providing a specific descriptive detail about the military capabilities of the Benjamite forces within the broader historical account of the inter-tribal war.
When
When was it written? The book of Judges was written around 1050 to 1000 B.C. book background
When does the event take place? The events described in the book of Judges, including this specific battle, occurred between approximately 1375 and 1050 B.C. book background
Where
Where did it happen? The events described in the surrounding passage, including the battle preparations and initial engagements, took place in Mizpeh, Gibeah of Benjamin, and the surrounding fields and highways, such as Baaltamar. stated in the text
Where was the author located? The author was located in Israel. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in The War Against Benjamin (Judges 20:1 to Judges 21:25).
Start reading at Judges 20:1. The passage describes the entire conflict between the tribes of Israel and Benjamin, which begins in chapter 20 and concludes in chapter 21.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This verse highlights the exceptional skill of a contingent of Benjamite warriors, explaining why the tribe of Benjamin, though vastly outnumbered, was able to inflict heavy casualties on the other tribes of Israel in the initial days of the battle. It underscores the formidable challenge faced by the rest of Israel in their attempt to bring justice for the wickedness committed in Gibeah. stated in the text
How does it point to Christ? This passage, like many in the Old Testament, points to the need for a righteous judge and deliverer. While the children of Israel sought to execute justice for the wickedness committed, their initial efforts were met with great loss, despite God's instruction to fight. This highlights the human struggle to perfectly execute God's justice and the ultimate need for God's own perfect intervention and judgment, which is fully realized in the one whom God has anointed to judge the quick and the dead. interpretation
How do I apply it today? This passage reminds believers today that skill and strength, while valuable, do not guarantee success apart from the LORD's will and blessing. It emphasizes the importance of seeking God's counsel in all endeavors and persevering in prayer and obedience, even when facing formidable opposition or initial setbacks, trusting that the LORD ultimately determines the outcome. interpretation
What Scripture saysThe book does not name its author.
Early traditionJewish tradition (Baba Bathra 14b) names Samuel.
What is debatedAuthorship is not stated in Scripture and cannot be confirmed. The repeated note that there was no king in Israel suggests a writer during the monarchy.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Judges 20
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Judges describes Israel after Joshua, including repeated apostasy and deliverance. It does not name its author. Narrated violence, vows, and misconduct are not endorsements merely because they appear in the account. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The closing accounts expose religious and social disorder, repeatedly drawing attention to the absence of a king and self-directed conduct.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The closing accounts expose religious and social disorder, repeatedly drawing attention to the absence of a king and self-directed conduct.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Judges
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Judges describes Israel after Joshua, including repeated apostasy and deliverance. It does not name its author. Narrated violence, vows, and misconduct are not endorsements merely because they appear in the account.
Connection to the wholeThe closing accounts expose religious and social disorder, repeatedly drawing attention to the absence of a king and self-directed conduct.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.