Judges Chapter 20 — The War Against Benjamin
The tribes of Israel unite to punish the city of Gibeah, leading to a bloody civil war that nearly annihilates the tribe of Benjamin.
Open this chapter in the Biblicast app for the full reading experience with audio narration and explanations.
Notable Verses
Judges 20:1
“Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to the LORD at Mizpah.”
This verse highlights a rare moment of total unity among the Israelite tribes before the civil war begins.
Judges 20:16
“Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.”
This describes the specialized military skill of the Benjamite warriors that contributed to their initial success.
Judges 20:26
“Then all the children of Israel and all the people went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until evening...”
This illustrates the shift from military self-reliance to spiritual seeking after the Israelites suffered two major defeats.
Chapter Summary
Judges 20 details the escalation of conflict between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel. After a Levite recounts the murder of his concubine in Gibeah, the Israelite tribes gather 400,000 soldiers at Mizpah. They demand that the Benjamites hand over the offenders, but Benjamin refuses and prepares for war instead. The first two days of battle result in heavy losses for Israel, with 40,000 men killed despite their superior numbers. After seeking the Lord through fasting and offerings at Bethel, Israel changes their strategy on the third day. Using an ambush tactic, they lure the Benjamite army away from Gibeah while a hidden force sets the city on fire. Caught between the main army and the burning city, the Benjamites are crushed. Only 600 men from the tribe of Benjamin survive, fleeing to the rock of Rimmon while the rest of their cities are destroyed.
Frequently Asked Questions
The war began because the men of Gibeah, a Benjamite city, committed a horrific crime against a Levite's concubine. When the tribe of Benjamin refused to hand over the perpetrators to face justice, the rest of Israel united to punish the tribe for harboring the criminals.
The tribe of Benjamin had an elite force of seven hundred left-handed soldiers who were incredibly accurate with slings. The text notes they were so skilled they could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
After two initial defeats, Israel used an ambush strategy. They lured the Benjamite army away from the city of Gibeah by feigning a retreat. Meanwhile, a hidden group of soldiers entered the city and set it on fire, signaling the main Israelite army to turn and attack the confused Benjamites.
Only 600 men from the tribe of Benjamin survived the final battle. They fled toward the wilderness and took refuge at the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed for four months.
Study Note
The mention of Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, in verse 28 provides a chronological marker suggesting these events occurred early in the period of the Judges.
Related Chapters
Judges 19
This chapter provides the essential backstory for the crime that triggered the civil war.
Joshua 8
The military tactics used by Israel in this chapter closely mirror the ambush strategy used against Ai.
Judges 21
This chapter describes the aftermath of the war and the preservation of the tribe of Benjamin.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.