Judges 20:15 - The children of Benjamin were counted on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred chosen men.
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What does "Judges 20:15" mean?
Judges 20:15 is a key verse in a very violent and tragic episode in the Book of Judges. Let's break it down:
"The children of Benjamin were counted on that day...": This refers to the tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. A census or count was taken of their fighting men.
"...out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword...": This means that from all the cities and towns within the territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin, they mustered 26,000 soldiers. "Drew the sword" is a euphemism for being able and equipped to fight. This is the main fighting force of the tribe of Benjamin.
"...besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred chosen men.": Gibeah was a city within the territory of Benjamin, and it's central to this story. These 700 men were in addition to the 26,000. The phrase "chosen men" suggests they were an elite force, perhaps better trained or equipped than the average soldier.
Significance in Context:
This verse provides the numbers of the Benjaminite army assembled to fight against the other eleven tribes of Israel. Here's why that's significant:
The Preceding Story: Chapter 19 and the beginning of chapter 20 tell a disturbing story about the rape and murder of a Levite's concubine in Gibeah. The other tribes of Israel demanded that the Benjaminites hand over the guilty men from Gibeah for punishment.
Benjamin's Refusal: The tribe of Benjamin refused to hand over the guilty men. This was a massive act of defiance against the rest of Israel.
Civil War: Because of Benjamin's refusal, the other eleven tribes declared war on them. Judges 20 describes the ensuing battles.
Underdog Story: This verse shows that Benjamin, though smaller than the other tribes, mustered a significant fighting force, including an elite group from Gibeah. This sets the stage for a very difficult and bloody civil war.
Tragic Outcome: The story continues to show that even though the other 11 tribes suffered losses early on, they eventually decimated the tribe of Benjamin, leading to their near extinction.
In summary, Judges 20:15 provides the military strength of the tribe of Benjamin on the eve of a devastating civil war, highlighting their defiance and setting the stage for a tragic and violent conflict. It paints a picture of a tribe willing to fight to defend its own, even in the face of overwhelming opposition.
Judges 20:15 - The children of Benjamin were counted on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred chosen men.
What does "Judges 20:15" mean?
Judges 20:15 is a key verse in a very violent and tragic episode in the Book of Judges. Let's break it down:
"The children of Benjamin were counted on that day...": This refers to the tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. A census or count was taken of their fighting men.
"...out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword...": This means that from all the cities and towns within the territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin, they mustered 26,000 soldiers. "Drew the sword" is a euphemism for being able and equipped to fight. This is the main fighting force of the tribe of Benjamin.
"...besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred chosen men.": Gibeah was a city within the territory of Benjamin, and it's central to this story. These 700 men were in addition to the 26,000. The phrase "chosen men" suggests they were an elite force, perhaps better trained or equipped than the average soldier.
Significance in Context:
This verse provides the numbers of the Benjaminite army assembled to fight against the other eleven tribes of Israel. Here's why that's significant:
The Preceding Story: Chapter 19 and the beginning of chapter 20 tell a disturbing story about the rape and murder of a Levite's concubine in Gibeah. The other tribes of Israel demanded that the Benjaminites hand over the guilty men from Gibeah for punishment.
Benjamin's Refusal: The tribe of Benjamin refused to hand over the guilty men. This was a massive act of defiance against the rest of Israel.
Civil War: Because of Benjamin's refusal, the other eleven tribes declared war on them. Judges 20 describes the ensuing battles.
Underdog Story: This verse shows that Benjamin, though smaller than the other tribes, mustered a significant fighting force, including an elite group from Gibeah. This sets the stage for a very difficult and bloody civil war.
Tragic Outcome: The story continues to show that even though the other 11 tribes suffered losses early on, they eventually decimated the tribe of Benjamin, leading to their near extinction.
In summary, Judges 20:15 provides the military strength of the tribe of Benjamin on the eve of a devastating civil war, highlighting their defiance and setting the stage for a tragic and violent conflict. It paints a picture of a tribe willing to fight to defend its own, even in the face of overwhelming opposition.