Judges 20:20

Authorized King James Version

And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֵּצֵא֙
went out
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#2
אִֽישׁ
And the men
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)
#3
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#4
מִלְחָמָ֖ה
to battle
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
#5
עִם
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
#6
בִּנְיָמִ֑ן
against Benjamin
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
#7
וַיַּֽעַרְכ֨וּ
put themselves in array
to set in a row, i.e., arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications)
#8
אִתָּ֧ם
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#9
אִֽישׁ
And the men
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)
#10
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#11
מִלְחָמָ֖ה
to battle
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
#12
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#13
הַגִּבְעָֽה׃
against them at Gibeah
gibah; the name of three places in palestine

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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