Judges 20:7 - Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.”
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What does "Judges 20:7" mean?
Judges 20:7, "Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel," is a call to action, a plea for collective wisdom in a dire situation. Let's break it down:
"Behold...": This is an attention-grabbing word, a way of saying, "Listen up! This is important!"
"You children of Israel, all of you...": This includes every member of the Israelite community. It is not just the leaders, or just the soldiers, but the entire populace being addressed. This emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the need for a widespread, unified response.
"Give here your advice and counsel...": The speaker is asking for guidance, opinions, and plans. This means the people are being asked to think deeply about the problem and contribute their perspectives to finding a solution. This implies a participatory decision-making process, not just top-down command.
Context within Judges 20:
This verse appears at the beginning of a tribal war. A Levite's concubine had been brutally raped and murdered in Gibeah, a town belonging to the tribe of Benjamin. The Levite then dismembered her body and sent pieces to all the tribes of Israel, effectively calling for justice and retribution.
In chapter 20, the tribes of Israel have gathered at Mizpah to consider how to respond. Verse 7 comes after the tribes have heard the Levite's story (Judges 20:4-6).
Meaning:
Therefore, verse 7 isn't merely a polite request. It's a powerful and crucial moment:
Seeking Collective Wisdom: The leader/speaker is recognizing that the problem is too big for any one person or a small group of leaders to solve alone. They need the collective insight and experience of the entire nation.
Promoting Unity: By asking for advice from all the people, the speaker aims to create a sense of shared ownership in the decision-making process, ideally fostering unity in the face of a difficult choice (whether to go to war with Benjamin or not).
Legitimizing the Action: Inviting widespread input helps legitimize whatever decision is eventually made. If the whole nation has had a chance to speak, they're more likely to accept the outcome, even if it's a difficult one.
Recognizing Potential Contribution: The speaker acknowledges that wisdom and good ideas aren't confined to the elite or powerful. Anyone, regardless of their social standing, might have a valuable insight.
In summary, this verse highlights the importance of seeking diverse perspectives, promoting unity, and recognizing the value of collective wisdom in addressing a significant crisis. It shows the Israelites attempting to engage in a form of democratic decision-making (at least in consulting a broad group) before embarking on a potentially devastating war. However, the consequences of the subsequent war show the dangers of groupthink and rash action, even when undertaken with the "advice and counsel" of the people.
Judges 20:7 - Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.”
What does "Judges 20:7" mean?
Judges 20:7, "Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel," is a call to action, a plea for collective wisdom in a dire situation. Let's break it down:
"Behold...": This is an attention-grabbing word, a way of saying, "Listen up! This is important!"
"You children of Israel, all of you...": This includes every member of the Israelite community. It is not just the leaders, or just the soldiers, but the entire populace being addressed. This emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the need for a widespread, unified response.
"Give here your advice and counsel...": The speaker is asking for guidance, opinions, and plans. This means the people are being asked to think deeply about the problem and contribute their perspectives to finding a solution. This implies a participatory decision-making process, not just top-down command.
Context within Judges 20:
This verse appears at the beginning of a tribal war. A Levite's concubine had been brutally raped and murdered in Gibeah, a town belonging to the tribe of Benjamin. The Levite then dismembered her body and sent pieces to all the tribes of Israel, effectively calling for justice and retribution.
In chapter 20, the tribes of Israel have gathered at Mizpah to consider how to respond. Verse 7 comes after the tribes have heard the Levite's story (Judges 20:4-6).
Meaning:
Therefore, verse 7 isn't merely a polite request. It's a powerful and crucial moment:
Seeking Collective Wisdom: The leader/speaker is recognizing that the problem is too big for any one person or a small group of leaders to solve alone. They need the collective insight and experience of the entire nation.
Promoting Unity: By asking for advice from all the people, the speaker aims to create a sense of shared ownership in the decision-making process, ideally fostering unity in the face of a difficult choice (whether to go to war with Benjamin or not).
Legitimizing the Action: Inviting widespread input helps legitimize whatever decision is eventually made. If the whole nation has had a chance to speak, they're more likely to accept the outcome, even if it's a difficult one.
Recognizing Potential Contribution: The speaker acknowledges that wisdom and good ideas aren't confined to the elite or powerful. Anyone, regardless of their social standing, might have a valuable insight.
In summary, this verse highlights the importance of seeking diverse perspectives, promoting unity, and recognizing the value of collective wisdom in addressing a significant crisis. It shows the Israelites attempting to engage in a form of democratic decision-making (at least in consulting a broad group) before embarking on a potentially devastating war. However, the consequences of the subsequent war show the dangers of groupthink and rash action, even when undertaken with the "advice and counsel" of the people.