Judges 20:16
Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.
Original Language Analysis
מִכֹּ֣ל׀
H3605
מִכֹּ֣ל׀
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
1 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָעָ֣ם
Among all this people
H5971
הָעָ֣ם
Among all this people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
2 of 18
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
הַזֶּ֗ה
H2088
שְׁבַ֤ע
there were seven
H7651
שְׁבַ֤ע
there were seven
Strong's:
H7651
Word #:
4 of 18
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
אִ֣ישׁ
men
H376
אִ֣ישׁ
men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
6 of 18
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)
אִטֵּ֖ר
lefthanded
H334
אִטֵּ֖ר
lefthanded
Strong's:
H334
Word #:
8 of 18
shut up, i.e., impeded (as to the use of the right hand)
יַד
H3027
יַד
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
9 of 18
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
יְמִינ֑וֹ
H3225
יְמִינ֑וֹ
Strong's:
H3225
Word #:
10 of 18
the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
קֹלֵ֧עַ
every one could sling
H7049
קֹלֵ֧עַ
every one could sling
Strong's:
H7049
Word #:
13 of 18
to sling; also to carve (as if a circular motion, or into light forms)
Cross References
Judges 3:15But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.1 Chronicles 12:2They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.
Historical Context
Left-handedness held special significance in Benjamin's tribe (the name 'Benjamin' means 'son of the right hand'). Judges 3:15 identifies Ehud as 'a Benjamite, a man lefthanded.' Ancient slingers were formidable warriors—skilled slingers could achieve velocities over 100 mph and accurately hit targets beyond bow range. David's later victory over Goliath with a sling (1 Samuel 17:49) demonstrates the weapon's lethality. Benjamin's 700 left-handed slingers represented an elite special forces unit.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you use your talents, skills, and competencies—in service of righteousness or to defend wrong?
- What does it mean that courage, discipline, and skill are morally neutral and must be directed by wisdom?
- Where are you displaying remarkable competence while defending remarkable evil?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded (אִטֵּר יַד־יְמִינוֹ, itter yad-yemino, literally 'restricted in his right hand')—whether naturally left-handed or trained ambidextrously, these 700 represented elite specialists. Every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss (קֹלֵעַ בָּאֶבֶן אֶל־הַשַּׂעֲרָה וְלֹא יַחֲטִא, qole'a ba'even el-hassa'arah velo yachati)—extraordinary accuracy: hitting a hair's breadth without missing. The verb 'miss' (חָטָא, chata) is the standard Hebrew term for 'sin,' creating a wordplay: they never 'miss' their targets, yet they're fighting for those who 'sinned' catastrophically.
The irony is profound: Benjamin's military excellence contrasts with their moral bankruptcy. Their elite troops display remarkable skill defending remarkable evil. This demonstrates that competence, discipline, courage, and skill are morally neutral—they can serve either righteousness or wickedness. Benjamin's 700 left-handed slingers recall another Benjamite, Ehud the left-handed judge who delivered Israel (3:15-30), but here the comparison highlights decline. Where Ehud used his skill to free Israel from oppression, these slingers use their skill to defend rapists and oppose covenant justice. The verse warns that talent without righteousness, skill without wisdom, and courage without truth ultimately serve evil. Their accuracy in slinging stones matches their accuracy in missing moral truth.