Judges 20:15-17
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The text subtly highlights that the entirety of Benjamin's fighting force, numbering 26,000, had to be gathered from their cities, indicating they lived in a defensive posture, not spread out in safety. Furthermore, the specific mention of Gibeah providing 700 chosen men implies this wasn't just a general muster, but a mobilization from their strongest, most strategically important stronghold.
And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men. Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The tribes of Israel have just discovered the horrific crime committed in Gibeah and the subsequent, stubborn defense of the Benjamites who refuse to hand over the perpetrators. This verse reveals the massive military response from the tribe of Benjamin, detailing their formidable numbers gathered from across their cities, preparing to face the united Israelite army. The scale of Benjamin's mobilization, even in the face of almost certain defeat, highlights the severity of the situation and the deep division that has erupted.
The numbers here seem off when compared to earlier census counts. What happened to the tribe of Benjamin?
When we look back at the census numbers from the wilderness wanderings (Numbers 1 and 26), the tribe of Benjamin had well over 35,000 and later over 45,000 men.
Now, in Judges 20, they muster 26,700. That's a significant drop, nearly a third of their strength gone!
Scholars suggest this decline points to the difficult times in Canaan. The Israelites had not fully driven out the Canaanites, and the land was still unsettled. The Benjamites, like others, likely lived in fortified cities for safety, and their population growth may have been stunted by constant conflict and instability.
The text mentions 700 'chosen men' from Gibeah. Who were they, and why are they highlighted?
This verse, and the following one (Judges 20:16), points to a special unit within Benjamin's army. These 700 men from Gibeah were 'chosen' and notably 'left-handed slingers.'
What does that mean? They were likely highly skilled warriors, perhaps trained from youth, chosen for their exceptional abilities. Being left-handed might have given them an advantage, as most people are right-handed, making their attacks less predictable.
Their inclusion highlights that even within a tribe facing internal strife, there were elite, highly capable individuals ready for battle. This underscores the gravity of the conflict and the strength of the tribe, despite their spiritual decline.
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Understand the original words
chereb · Hebrew Noun
The primary tool of warfare in the ancient world, often symbolizing military readiness, judgment, or the authority of the state to execute justice.
bachur · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Refers to warriors or soldiers who are specifically skilled, trained, or designated for a task, often implying they are the elite or the best of the group.
itter yad-yemino · Hebrew Adjective phrase
Literally 'bound as to the right hand,' indicating a physical distinction. In the biblical context, it often highlights a unique tactical advantage or rarity in ancient warfare.
qela · Hebrew Noun
An ancient weapon consisting of a strap or pouch used to hurl stones with great force and precision; a common tool for both shepherds and elite warriors.
paqad · Hebrew Verb
To assemble, gather, or count troops for the purpose of military action; implies organized preparation for warfare.
cherev · Hebrew Noun
A fundamental tool of ancient warfare symbolizing power, judgment, and the authority to take life in battle or under judicial decree.
The staggering numbers of the Benjamite army in this verse, 26,700 strong, stand in stark contrast to the tribe's near total destruction recounted later in the chapter. This highlights the devastating cost of the civil war and the severity of the violence that prompted it.
c. 1400 BC
Israelite Conquest of Canaan
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites under Joshua conquered and settled the land of Canaan. However, the conquest was not total, leaving some Canaanite populations and cities unsubdued.
c. 1375 BC - 1070 BC
Period of the Judges
A turbulent era in Israelite history characterized by cycles of disobedience, oppression by foreign nations, and deliverance through divinely appointed judges. This period saw continued struggles with remaining Canaanite groups and internal strife.
Early 11th Century BC— this verse
The Levite's Concubine Incident
A horrific act of violence and injustice occurred in Gibeah, a city of Benjamin, where a Levite's concubine was brutally assaulted and killed. This event triggered a massive crisis and civil war within Israel.
Early 11th Century BC
Civil War Erupts
The other Israelite tribes, outraged by the depravity in Gibeah, united to punish Benjamin. This led to a devastating series of battles where nearly the entire tribe of Benjamin was annihilated.
Early 11th Century BC
Near Annihilation of Benjamin
After three major battles, all Benjaminite cities were destroyed, and the vast majority of the men were killed, leaving only 600 survivors who fled to the rock of Rimmon. The tribe faced extinction.
Early 11th Century BC
Rebuilding and Survival of Benjamin
To preserve the tribe of Benjamin, the other tribes devised a plan to obtain wives for the survivors, ensuring Benjamin's continuation, though it remained the smallest of the twelve tribes.
This passage lists the census of the tribe of Benjamin after their time in the wilderness. It shows a significant drop in numbers compared to the earlier census (Numbers 1:36), mirroring the demographic decline seen in Judges 20, suggesting a period of hardship or conflict.
Deuteronomy 20:10This command from God outlines the rules of engagement for warfare, including offering terms of peace before attacking a city. The extreme violence and total annihilation of Benjamin in Judges 20 stands in stark contrast to these guidelines for holy war.
Judges 19:22This verse describes the wicked and violent men of Gibeah, the very people whose sin sparks the conflict. It highlights the moral depravity that led to this devastating civil war against the tribe of Benjamin.
1 Samuel 11:8This passage records Saul gathering Israel's army after he has been anointed king, numbering the fighting men. It provides a parallel instance of mustering troops in ancient Israel, though the context of a unified nation under a king differs greatly from the fractured state seen in Judges.
gillJudges 20:15: "And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men."
And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities,.... All that they could muster up, and gather together out of their several cities, were no more man than twenty and six thousand men that drew the sword able bodied men fit for war, and expert in it: beside t…
clarkeJudges 20:15: "And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men."
Twenty and six thousand - Some copies of the Septuagint have twenty-three thousand, others twenty-five thousand. The Vulgate has this latter number; the Complutensian Polyglot and Josephus have the same.
The text subtly highlights that the entirety of Benjamin's fighting force, numbering 26,000, had to be gathered from their cities, indicating they lived in a defensive posture, not spread out in safety. Furthermore, the specific mention of Gibeah providing 700 chosen men implies this wasn't just a general muster, but a mobilization from their strongest, most strategically important stronghold.
The tribes of Israel have just discovered the horrific crime committed in Gibeah and the subsequent, stubborn defense of the Benjamites who refuse to hand over the perpetrators. This verse reveals the massive military response from the tribe of Benjamin, detailing their formidable numbers gathered from across their cities, preparing to face the united Israelite army. The scale of Benjamin's mobilization, even in the face of almost certain defeat, highlights the severity of the situation and the deep division that has erupted.
The tribes of Israel have just discovered the horrific crime committed in Gibeah and the subsequent, stubborn defense of the Benjamites who refuse to hand over the perpetrators. This verse reveals the massive military response from the tribe of Benjamin, detailing their formidable numbers gathered from across their cities, preparing to face the united Israelite army. The scale of Benjamin's mobilization, even in the face of almost certain defeat, highlights the severity of the situation and the deep division that has erupted.
"And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men. Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sl…" — The text subtly highlights that the entirety of Benjamin's fighting force, numbering 26,000, had to be gathered from their cities, indicating they lived in a defensive posture, not spread out in sa…
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Last reviewed October 2026
