Judges 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.
Original Language Analysis
הִתְפָּ֣קְד֔וּ
were numbered
H6485
הִתְפָּ֣קְד֔וּ
were numbered
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
1 of 20
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
בְנֵ֨י
And the children
H1121
בְנֵ֨י
And the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 20
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בִנְיָמִ֜ן
of Benjamin
H1144
בִנְיָמִ֜ן
of Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
3 of 20
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
בַּיּ֤וֹם
at that time
H3117
בַּיּ֤וֹם
at that time
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
4 of 20
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַהוּא֙
H1931
הַהוּא֙
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
5 of 20
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
מֵהֶ֣עָרִ֔ים
out of the cities
H5892
מֵהֶ֣עָרִ֔ים
out of the cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
6 of 20
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
וְשִׁשָּׁ֥ה
and six
H8337
וְשִׁשָּׁ֥ה
and six
Strong's:
H8337
Word #:
8 of 20
six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth
אֶ֛לֶף
thousand
H505
אֶ֛לֶף
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
9 of 20
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
אִ֥ישׁ
men
H376
אִ֥ישׁ
men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
10 of 20
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)
חָ֑רֶב
sword
H2719
חָ֑רֶב
sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
12 of 20
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
לְ֠בַד
H905
לְ֠בַד
Strong's:
H905
Word #:
13 of 20
properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit
מִיֹּֽשְׁבֵ֤י
beside the inhabitants
H3427
מִיֹּֽשְׁבֵ֤י
beside the inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
14 of 20
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
הִתְפָּ֣קְד֔וּ
were numbered
H6485
הִתְפָּ֣קְד֔וּ
were numbered
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
16 of 20
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
שְׁבַ֥ע
seven
H7651
שְׁבַ֥ע
seven
Strong's:
H7651
Word #:
17 of 20
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
Historical Context
Benjamin was the smallest tribe after Simeon, which had been largely absorbed into Judah (Joshua 19:1, 9). Their 26,000 warriors represented essentially their entire male fighting population. Cities typically could muster 10-20% of their total population for warfare, suggesting Benjamin's total population around 100,000-130,000. For the entire tribe to unite in defense of one city's criminals demonstrates how thoroughly tribal solidarity had overridden covenant loyalty.
Questions for Reflection
- How do communities become complicit by protecting predators and defending the indefensible?
- When does loyalty to your group lead you to unite in defense of wickedness?
- What would it look like for your community to value justice over group protection?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword—26,000 warriors from Benjamin's towns. Beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men—Gibeah itself fielded 700 elite troops. The total Benjamite force: 26,700. Israel's 400,000 (v. 2) outnumbered them 15-to-1, yet Benjamin chose war.
The numbers reveal Benjamin's confidence despite astronomical odds. Their 700 'chosen' (בָּחוּר, bachur, 'elite, select') warriors from Gibeah—the very city that committed the crime—suggests Gibeah's citizens united in defending the perpetrators. This communal solidarity with evil demonstrates corporate guilt. An entire city protects gang rapists and murderers rather than surrendering them for justice. The verse illustrates how evil metastasizes: individual sin → communal protection → tribal defense → civil war. Each level of defense compounds the original wickedness. Communities that protect predators become complicit. The mention of specific numbers underscores the reality: this is not metaphor but historical tragedy—tens of thousands will die because 700 men from one city refused to surrender criminals, and their tribe supported them.