Bible Chapter Summary
Judges 20 Summary
Israel's War Against Benjamin
All Israel gathers as one man at Mizpeh, hears the Levite's account, and demands Gibeah's guilty men, but Benjamin refuses and prepares for war. In two days of battle Benjamin's skilled warriors slay tens of thousands of Israelites despite Israel's larger numbers; weeping and fasting, Israel seeks the LORD, who promises victory on the third day. By an ambush behind Gibeah, Israel routs Benjamin, slaying twenty-five thousand and burning their cities; only six hundred men escape to the rock Rimmon.
Key themes
Key verses
Judges 20:1
“Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.”
Judges 20:26
“Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.”
Judges 20:35
“And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.”
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