701 - Israel’s War with Benjamin

Israel’s War with Benjamin

Then, all the Israelites were united, as one man, from Dan, in the north, to Beersheba, in the south, including those, from across the Jordan, in the land of Gilead. 

The entire community assembled, in the presence of the Lord, at Mizpah. 

The leaders, of all the people, and all the tribes of Israel—400,000 warriors armed, with swords—took their positions, in the assembly of the people of God. 

(Word soon reached the land of Benjamin, that the other tribes had gone up to Mizpah.) 

The Israelites, then asked, how this terrible crime had happened. 

The Levite, the husband of the woman who had been murdered, said, 

“My concubine and I came to spend the night, in Gibeah, a town that belongs, to the people of Benjamin. 

That night, some of the leading citizens of Gibeah, surrounded the house, planning to kill me, and they raped my concubine, until she was dead. 

So, I cut her body into twelve pieces, and sent the pieces throughout the territory, that is  assigned to Israel, for these men have committed a terrible and shameful crime. 

Now then, all of you—the entire community of Israel—must decide here and now …what should be done about this!” 

And all the people rose to their feet, in unison and declared, 

“None of us will return home! 

No, not even one of us! 

Instead, this is what we will do, to Gibeah; we will draw lots, to decide who will attack it. 

One tenth, of the men, from each tribe, will be chosen, to supply the warriors with food, and the rest, of us, will take revenge on Gibeah, of Benjamin, for this shameful thing,  which they have done, in Israel.” 

So, all the Israelites were completely united, and they gathered …together, to attack the town. 

The Israelites sent messengers, to the tribe of Benjamin, saying, 

“What a terrible thing has been done among you! 

Give up those evil men, those troublemakers, from Gibeah, so we can execute them …and purge Israel of this evil.” 

But the people, of Benjamin, would not listen. 

Instead, they came from their towns …and gathered at Gibeah, to fight the Israelites. 

In all, 26,000 of their warriors, armed with swords arrived in Gibeah to join the 700 elite troops, who lived there. 

Among Benjamin’s elite troops, 700 were left-handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target, within a hairsbreadth, without missing. 

Israel had 400,000 experienced soldiers armed with swords, not counting Benjamin’s warriors. 

Judges 20:1–17 (NLT)

Praise be to God!