Judges 20:10 - and we will take ten men of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to get food for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have worked in Israel.”

Generated Verse: Judges 20:10

What does "Judges 20:10" mean?


Judges 20:10 is describing a military draft and its purpose. Let's break it down:

"And we will take ten men of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel...": This is a proportional draft. For every 100 men in each tribe, 10 will be selected. This ensures a wide and representative army drawn from all Israel.
"...and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand...": This simply restates the same proportion in different numbers, emphasizing that the selection process is consistently applied: 10% of the population is being drafted.
"...to get food for the people...": The primary task of these drafted men is to procure provisions. Armies need supplies to sustain themselves during campaigns. Gathering food and other necessities is a critical logistical function.
"...that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have worked in Israel.": This reveals the reason for the army and its supplies. The aim is to punish Gibeah of Benjamin for their grievous sin. "Folly" here refers to the horrific incident in Gibeah (described in Judges 19), where a Levite's concubine was brutally gang-raped and murdered. The other tribes of Israel see this as a violation of their covenant with God and demand justice. This is an internal act of punishing a crime.

In essence, the verse describes a national draft to raise an army and supply it for the purpose of enacting justice on the city of Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin, for the heinous crime committed there. It shows that the tribes of Israel are united in their determination to hold those responsible accountable. The act of food procurement is part of setting the stage for military action.

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