Judges 20:12
And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What evil is this that has taken place among you?
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Before marching into battle, Israel sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin not just to ask about the crime, but to confront them with the sheer magnitude of their wickedness. This wasn't a neutral inquiry; it was a forceful challenge designed to expose the enormity of what had happened among them, pushing Benjamin to acknowledge their complicity and deliver the guilty.
Before the tribes of Israel march to war, they send messengers to the entire tribe of Benjamin, demanding an explanation and seeking the perpetrators of a horrific crime. This attempt at seeking justice through negotiation aims to separate the guilty from the innocent and give Benjamin a chance to rectify their terrible wrong, thereby preventing a devastating conflict. However, the sternness of their demand will unfortunately provoke pride and defiance rather than submission.
Before armies clash and swords are drawn, there's often a crucial step taken to seek resolution. What does this look like in the Bible?
Seeking Resolution First
Before launching into full-scale warfare, the tribes of Israel sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin. This wasn't just a formality; it was a deliberate attempt to resolve the horrific crime that had occurred.
The Bible sometimes uses words in flexible ways. Here, 'tribe' might mean something a bit different, and it impacts how we understand responsibility.
Understanding 'Tribe' and 'Family'
In this passage, the wording about 'tribes' can be a little tricky. While it says the 'tribes of Israel' sent men, it also mentions sending them 'through all the tribe of Benjamin.' The original Hebrew word here, when referring to Benjamin, is often translated as 'family' or 'clan.'
Understand the original words
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
A moral or spiritual deviation from God’s standard; wickedness or depravity that disrupts the covenant relationship and requires judgment or atonement.
This verse is set against the backdrop of a national crisis, where a horrific crime in Gibeah threatened to tear the united tribes of Israel apart. The attempt to address the crime through an embassy, as described in this verse, reveals a deep-seated desire for justice and order, even in a time when 'there was no king in Israel' and 'every man did that which was right in his own eyes'.
Early 11th century BC— this verse
The Crime at Gibeah
A Levite's concubine is brutally assaulted and murdered by a mob in Gibeah, a town belonging to the tribe of Benjamin. This heinous act sparks outrage across Israel.
Early 11th century BC
Israel Gathers at Mizpah
All the tribes of Israel, except Benjamin, convene at Mizpah to deliberate on the crime. They are united in their desire for justice and to uphold the nation's moral and religious standards.
Early 11th century BC
Embassy to Benjamin
Before resorting to war, the tribes send messengers to the tribe of Benjamin, demanding the perpetrators of the crime be handed over for justice. This is a final attempt at peace and justice.
Early 11th century BC
Benjamin Refuses to Cooperate
The tribe of Benjamin, perhaps out of tribal solidarity or a misplaced sense of honor, refuses to surrender the guilty men. They rally to defend Gibeah, setting the stage for civil war.
This passage describes the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, highlighting a similar theme of divine judgment against extreme wickedness that Israel is confronting in Benjamin.
Leviticus 18:22This verse explicitly condemns the kind of sexual perversion that occurred in Gibeah, underscoring the gravity of the sin that the tribes of Israel are seeking to address.
Deuteronomy 13:12-14This passage provides the legal framework for Israel to investigate and deal with a city that has fallen into extreme wickedness, mirroring the investigative steps taken by the tribes before war.
1 Samuel 11:7Similar to Judges 20, this passage shows Israel being roused to action against an atrocity committed by their own people, demonstrating a consistent pattern of collective response to grave moral failures.
bensonJudges 20:12: "And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?"
Jdg 20:12 . The tribes of Israel sent men, &c. — Before they marched forward they sent an embassy to the Benjamites, to complain of the wickedness that had been committed, and the injury that had been done by some of their tribe, and to demand that the offenders might be delivered up to justice. This was a wise and just course, that the innocent might be s…
pooleJudges 20:12: "And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?"
The tribe, Heb. tribes ; either the plural number for the singular; or rather tribe is put for family , as was noted before, as families are elsewhere put for tribes . They take a wise and a just course, in sending to all the parts and families of the tribe, to separate the innocent from the guilty, and to give them a fair opportunity of preventing their r…
Before marching into battle, Israel sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin not just to ask about the crime, but to confront them with the sheer magnitude of their wickedness. This wasn't a neutral inquiry; it was a forceful challenge designed to expose the enormity of what had happened among them, pushing Benjamin to acknowledge their complicity and deliver the guilty.
Before the tribes of Israel march to war, they send messengers to the entire tribe of Benjamin, demanding an explanation and seeking the perpetrators of a horrific crime. This attempt at seeking justice through negotiation aims to separate the guilty from the innocent and give Benjamin a chance to rectify their terrible wrong, thereby preventing a devastating conflict. However, the sternness of their demand will unfortunately provoke pride and defiance rather than submission.
Before the tribes of Israel march to war, they send messengers to the entire tribe of Benjamin, demanding an explanation and seeking the perpetrators of a horrific crime. This attempt at seeking justice through negotiation aims to separate the guilty from the innocent and give Benjamin a chance to rectify their terrible wrong, thereby preventing a devastating conflict. However, the sternness of their demand will unfortunately provoke pride and defiance rather than submission.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Judges 20:12 is available in the Sola app.
Early 11th century BC
First Battles Against Benjamin
The united tribes of Israel engage the tribe of Benjamin in battle. Despite their overwhelming numbers, the Israelites suffer initial defeats, highlighting the fierce resistance of Benjamin.
Early 11th century BC
Israel Seeks Divine Counsel
After their early setbacks, the Israelites return to Mizpah to inquire of the Lord. They fast and lament, seeking God's guidance and strength for the ongoing conflict.
Early 11th century BC
Decisive Victory and Near Extermination
Following divine counsel and a renewed strategy, the Israelite tribes achieve a decisive victory, almost completely annihilating the tribe of Benjamin. This outcome fills them with horror and regret.
"And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What evil is this that has taken place among you?" — Before marching into battle, Israel sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin not just to ask about the crime, but to confront them with the sheer magnitude of their wickedness. This wasn't a neutra…
