Judges 20:12-14
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Before marching to war, Israel wisely sent a delegation not just to the whole tribe of Benjamin, but through all its families, explicitly separating the innocent from the guilty and offering a chance for repentance. This wasn't a simple inquiry about what happened, but a pointed challenge: "What evil is this that has taken place among you?"—a call for them to confront the immense wickedness within their own community.
And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What evil is this that has taken place among you? Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel. Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Before the tribes of Israel launch a full-scale war, they send messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, demanding to know what terrible wickedness has occurred among them. This was a wise and just attempt to give Benjamin a chance to deliver the offenders and avoid a devastating conflict that would bring ruin upon themselves. However, the Benjamites’ defiant response, rallying to defend their guilty kinsmen, solidifies the tribes' resolve to take military action.
Before the armies clash, Israel takes a crucial step. What does this tell us about God's desire for justice and reconciliation?
In the face of an appalling crime committed by the tribe of Benjamin, the other tribes of Israel didn't immediately rush into battle. Instead, they sent messengers throughout Benjamin, asking, 'What evil is this that has taken place among you?' This was a deliberate and just approach.
The question, 'What evil is this that has taken place among you?' implies more than just individual guilt. What does it reveal about communal accountability?
The messengers didn't just ask who committed the crime; they asked what evil had taken place among them. This points to a vital concept in ancient Israel: collective responsibility.
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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.
beliya'al · Hebrew Noun
A term describing morally corrupt, base, or useless individuals, often implying a lack of reverence for God or societal standards.
ba'ar · Hebrew Verb
To remove, clear away, or drive out moral impurity or wickedness from the covenant community to maintain holiness and satisfy God's justice.
This verse highlights a crucial, though difficult, step in the ensuing conflict: the attempt at reconciliation and justice before engaging in civil war. It reveals Israel's effort to isolate the guilty and avoid punishing an entire tribe for the sins of a few, though this attempt ultimately failed.
Late 11th century BC— this verse
The Crime at Gibeah
A Levite's concubine is brutally assaulted and murdered by men of the tribe of Benjamin in Gibeah, sparking outrage throughout Israel.
Late 11th century BC
Israel Assembles at Mizpah
All the tribes of Israel except Benjamin gather as one body at Mizpah to consult and decide how to deal with the crime.
Late 11th century BC
Demand for Justice
The assembled tribes send messengers to the tribe of Benjamin demanding the perpetrators be handed over for punishment.
Late 11th century BC
Benjamin Refuses to Cooperate
The tribe of Benjamin rallies around Gibeah, refusing to surrender the guilty men and preparing for war.
Late 11th century BC
The First Battle
The united tribes of Israel attack Benjamin but are initially defeated, suffering heavy losses.
Late 11th century BC
A Second Attempt and Victory
After seeking God's counsel and repenting, the tribes of Israel launch a second, successful attack, ultimately defeating the Benjamites.
This passage highlights God's judgment against extreme wickedness, similar to the situation in Gibeah, showing a pattern of confronting egregious sin.
Deuteronomy 19:15-19This passage outlines the legal process for dealing with serious crimes, emphasizing the need for at least two witnesses and a fair trial before judgment, which is what Israel was trying to offer Benjamin.
1 Samuel 11:7This shows a similar instance where a tribe's wrongdoing (Nahash the Ammonite's demand) incites a unified response from all Israel, demonstrating the gravity of such tribal actions.
Psalm 11:5This verse speaks to God's hatred of violent and wicked deeds, resonating with the outrage felt by the tribes of Israel against the abominable act committed in Benjamin.
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 to war, Israel wisely sent a delegation not just to the whole tribe of Benjamin, but through all its families, explicitly separating the innocent from the guilty and offering a chance for repentance. This wasn't a simple inquiry about what happened, but a pointed challenge: "What evil is this that has taken place among you?"—a call for them to confront the immense wickedness within their own community.
Before the tribes of Israel launch a full-scale war, they send messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, demanding to know what terrible wickedness has occurred among them. This was a wise and just attempt to give Benjamin a chance to deliver the offenders and avoid a devastating conflict that would bring ruin upon themselves. However, the Benjamites’ defiant response, rallying to defend their guilty kinsmen, solidifies the tribes' resolve to take military action.
Before the tribes of Israel launch a full-scale war, they send messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, demanding to know what terrible wickedness has occurred among them. This was a wise and just attempt to give Benjamin a chance to deliver the offenders and avoid a devastating conflict that would bring ruin upon themselves. However, the Benjamites’ defiant response, rallying to defend their guilty kinsmen, solidifies the tribes' resolve to take military action.
"And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What evil is this that has taken place among you? Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil fr…" — Before marching to war, Israel wisely sent a delegation not just to the whole tribe of Benjamin, but through all its families, explicitly separating the innocent from the guilty and offering a chan…
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Last reviewed October 2026
