What is the meaning of Judges 20:17? The Israelites “The Israelites” identifies the united covenant people of God (Judges 20:1). • A full national assembly answered the call to uphold righteousness, echoing earlier gatherings like Joshua 24:1 and 1 Samuel 7:5–6. • Their unity fulfills Exodus 19:6, showing the nation acting as “a kingdom of priests.” • By standing together they model Leviticus 19:17, confronting sin within the community rather than ignoring it. apart from Benjamin This clause highlights a tragic breach in fellowship. • Benjamin had sheltered the violent men of Gibeah (Judges 19:22–30), refusing to surrender them for justice (Judges 20:13). • Deuteronomy 13:12–18 required Israel to purge evil from its midst; Benjamin’s refusal forced separation. • The phrase anticipates 2 Corinthians 6:17, where separation from unrepentant wrongdoing safeguards holiness. mobilized Mobilization signals decisive, collective action. • Judges 20:2 records chiefs, tribes, and peoples assembling “in the presence of the LORD,” grounding the campaign in divine authority. • Similar urgent calls appear in 1 Samuel 11:7 and 2 Chronicles 20:1–4, where national crises move God’s people to gather swiftly. • The readiness to act reinforces Romans 13:4, showing civil authority—here the tribal elders—wielding the sword against evildoers. 400,000 swordsmen The large, specific number underscores the gravity of the offense. • Comparable figures (Judges 20:2; 1 Samuel 15:4; 2 Samuel 24:9) reveal Israel’s capacity when fully mustered. • The literal total emphasizes that justice required costly involvement, illustrating Psalm 94:16: “Who will rise up for me against the wicked?” • Such transparency in numbers supports the historical reliability of Scripture. each one an experienced warrior Israel’s force was not a raw militia but battle-tested men. • “Experienced warrior” parallels descriptions in 1 Chronicles 12:8 and 2 Samuel 1:19, where skillful fighters defend covenant purposes. • Their competence contrasts with Benjamin’s elite 700 left-handed slingers (Judges 20:16), setting the scene for an evenly matched yet moral confrontation. • God often employs human preparation (Proverbs 21:31) while retaining ultimate sovereignty over the outcome (Psalm 33:16–17). summary Judges 20:17 records a united Israel—excluding the unrepentant tribe of Benjamin—answering God’s call to confront internal wickedness. Their large, seasoned army demonstrates both the seriousness of the offense and the nation’s commitment to uphold covenant holiness, reminding believers that collective courage and preparedness are sometimes necessary to preserve righteousness within the people of God. |
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