Judges 20:11
So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
Original Language Analysis
וַיֵּֽאָסֵ֞ף
were gathered
H622
וַיֵּֽאָסֵ֞ף
were gathered
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
1 of 9
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 9
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
כְּאִ֥ישׁ
So all the men
H376
כְּאִ֥ישׁ
So all the men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
3 of 9
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
4 of 9
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
הָעִ֔יר
against the city
H5892
הָעִ֔יר
against the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
6 of 9
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
כְּאִ֥ישׁ
So all the men
H376
כְּאִ֥ישׁ
So all the men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
7 of 9
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
Historical Context
The military encampment 'against the city' followed ancient siege warfare conventions. The language echoes earlier accounts of Israelite unity in conquest (Joshua 10:5-6), but here turned against their own brethren. This civil war prefigures later conflicts: the northern tribes' rebellion against Rehoboam (1 Kings 12), the split kingdom's recurrent warfare, and ultimately the Babylonian destruction of Judah—all demonstrating how quickly God's people turn their swords against each other when covenant loyalty fractures.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you confuse unity around shared enemies with unity around shared worship of God?
- When does outrage bind you to others more powerfully than devotion to God?
- What distinguishes godly unity from coalition built on common opposition?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man (חֲבֵרִים כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד, chaverim ke'ish echad)—'knit together' (חָבַר, chavar) suggests joining, confederating, allying. The phrase 'as one man' appears again (third time), reinforcing Israel's unprecedented unity. Yet this unity is directed 'against' (אֶל, el) Gibeah, emphasizing hostility rather than restorative discipline.
The verse crystallizes the chapter's central irony: Israel achieves the unity they've lacked throughout Judges, but for civil war rather than covenant faithfulness. They're 'knit together' for destruction of a brother tribe instead of being knit together in worship of Yahweh. This raises profound questions about the nature of unity. Unity around shared enemies is easier than unity around shared worship. Outrage binds people more readily than devotion. Israel's cohesion here comes from hatred of Benjamin's sin, not love for God's holiness. The chapter will demonstrate that unity without adequate submission to God leads to devastating losses. Better to be divided yet seeking God properly than to be united yet consulting Him inadequately. The tragedy of Judges 20 is not that Israel lacked unity or righteous indignation, but that they possessed both without sufficient humility before God.