Judges 20:10-11
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This verse highlights a practical, strategic decision made by the Israelite tribes: they’re not just charging into battle; they’re planning for a potentially prolonged conflict by organizing a substantial logistical force. It reveals that even in the heat of righteous indignation, a significant portion of the army (one-tenth) is dedicated to ensuring sustenance, showing that effective action requires both courage and careful planning.
and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel.” So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a horrific crime in Gibeah that outraged all Israel, the tribes have united at Mizpah to decide on a course of action against Benjamin. This verse reveals their organized plan: to send a significant portion of their army, one in ten, to gather provisions, ensuring they can sustain a long campaign to punish Benjamin for the atrocities committed.
Why would the Israelites meticulously detail their provision-gathering plan in such a dire situation?
The text outlines a precise system: one in ten men would be responsible for provisions. This wasn't just a casual arrangement; it was a strategic decision that reflects the seriousness and scale of the impending conflict.
A Tenth of the Nation
The phrase "ten men of a hundred, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand" isn't just repetitive language. It's a way to express that one-tenth of the entire fighting force was being delegated to a specific, crucial task: supplying the army.
This indicates they were anticipating a prolonged campaign, not a quick skirmish. By organizing provisions so thoroughly, they aimed to sustain their large army, which numbered in the hundreds of thousands, for as long as necessary to achieve justice.
What does it mean for Israel to 'repay' Gibeah for their outrage?
The motivation behind this massive mobilization wasn't simple bloodlust; it was a demand for justice. The inhabitants of Gibeah had committed an 'outrage' that was an affront to God and man, a crime so heinous it needed to be addressed to maintain the moral fabric of Israel.
An Outrage Against God's People
The phrase "according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel" points to a deep-seated corruption that threatened the entire nation. This wasn't just a local dispute; it was a crime against the covenant people, a violation of the sanctity of Israel itself. The Israelites were determined to make an example of Gibeah, ensuring that such wickedness would not stand within God's chosen people.
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Understand the original words
gamal · Hebrew Verb
The concept of rendering justice or compensation for a wrong committed. It implies restoring the moral balance that was disrupted by a transgression, often involving retribution or punishment.
Yisra'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant community descended from Jacob, chosen by God to be His people, set apart to live according to His law and covenant.
This verse is part of a desperate plan to sustain the massive Israelite army mobilized to punish the tribe of Benjamin. The logistical arrangements highlight the seriousness of the situation and the commitment of the tribes to address the heinous crime committed at Gibeah, even anticipating a prolonged conflict.
Early Judges Period
Outrage at Gibeah
A horrific act of sexual violence and murder occurs in Gibeah, a town belonging to the tribe of Benjamin. The victim, a Levite's concubine, is dismembered and her body parts sent throughout Israel to expose the crime.
Early Judges Period— this verse
Israel United in Outrage
All the tribes of Israel, except Benjamin, gather as one body at Mizpah, incensed by the crime. They vow to bring the perpetrators to justice and punish the entire tribe of Benjamin for harboring them.
Early Judges Period
Initial Military Defeats
The united Israelite tribes launch a military campaign against Benjamin but suffer two significant defeats, demonstrating their initial overconfidence and underestimation of their opponents.
Early Judges Period
Seeking Divine Counsel and Victory
After their defeats, the Israelites return to Mizpah, fast, and seek God's counsel. They are assured of victory, and this time, their strategy leads to the near-annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin.
Early Judges Period
Near Extermination of Benjamin
In their vengeful pursuit, the Israelites kill almost all the men and women of Benjamin, leaving only 600 survivors. This near-extermination prompts great grief and concern for the future of the tribe.
Early Judges Period
The Problem of Benjamin's Survival
The near-destruction of Benjamin creates a crisis, as the other tribes had sworn not to give their daughters in marriage to any Benjaminites. This leads to further complex events to ensure the tribe's continuation.
This passage describes a significant dispute and the subsequent logistical concerns and preparations that arise between different groups of Israelites, mirroring the large-scale mobilization and provision efforts seen in Judges 20.
1 Samuel 11:7Here, the people of Israel are moved to righteous anger and a united response against a grave injustice, similar to the outrage that sparks the war against Gibeah in Judges 20.
2 Samuel 21:6This passage recounts a severe atonement required from the people of Israel for a past wrong, highlighting the heavy consequences and collective responsibility that can follow widespread sin, much like the repercussions of Gibeah's actions.
Nehemiah 4:16This verse depicts the practical organization and defense of laborers while rebuilding Jerusalem, showcasing how provisions and security were managed during a time of communal effort and potential conflict, paralleling the provisioning strategy in Judges 20.
clarkeJudges 20:10: "And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel."
Ten men of a hundred - Expecting that they might have a long contest, they provide suttlers for the camp; and it is probable that they chose these tenths by lot.
pooleJudges 20:10: "And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel."
That they may do according to all the folly that they have wrought; that we may punish them as such a wickedness deserves. In Israel: this is added as an aggravation, that they should do that…
This verse highlights a practical, strategic decision made by the Israelite tribes: they’re not just charging into battle; they’re planning for a potentially prolonged conflict by organizing a substantial logistical force. It reveals that even in the heat of righteous indignation, a significant portion of the army (one-tenth) is dedicated to ensuring sustenance, showing that effective action requires both courage and careful planning.
Following a horrific crime in Gibeah that outraged all Israel, the tribes have united at Mizpah to decide on a course of action against Benjamin. This verse reveals their organized plan: to send a significant portion of their army, one in ten, to gather provisions, ensuring they can sustain a long campaign to punish Benjamin for the atrocities committed.
Following a horrific crime in Gibeah that outraged all Israel, the tribes have united at Mizpah to decide on a course of action against Benjamin. This verse reveals their organized plan: to send a significant portion of their army, one in ten, to gather provisions, ensuring they can sustain a long campaign to punish Benjamin for the atrocities committed.
"and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the o…" — This verse highlights a practical, strategic decision made by the Israelite tribes: they’re not just charging into battle; they’re planning for a potentially prolonged conflict by organizing a substa…
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Last reviewed October 2026
