Bible/Judges/20

Judges 20:2

20:1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.
And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

KJV

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The chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew sword.

And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

20:3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?

What does Judges 20:2 mean?

Judges 20:2 is a verse in the book of Judges, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include פִּנָּה (pinnâh), עַם (ʻam), שֵׁבֶט (shêbeṭ). It connects to 6 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
the
chiefפִּנָּהpinnâh/pin-naw'/H6438an angle; by implication, a pinnacle; figuratively, a chieftain
of
all
the
people,עַםʻam/am/H5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
even
of
all
the
tribesשֵׁבֶטshêbeṭ/shay'-bet/H7626a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
of
Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêl/yis-raw-ale'/H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
presentedיָצַבyâtsab/yaw-tsab'/H3320to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue
themselves
in
the
assemblyקָהָלqâhâl/kaw-hawl'/H6951assemblage (usually concretely)
of
the
peopleעַםʻam/am/H5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
of
God,אֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
fourאַרְבַּעʼarbaʻ/ar-bah'/H702four
hundredמֵאָהmêʼâh/may-aw'/H3967a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
thousandאֶלֶףʼeleph/eh'-lef/H505hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
footmenאִישׁʼîysh/eesh/H376a 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)
that
drewשָׁלַףshâlaph/saw-laf'/H8025to pull out, up or off
sword.חֶרֶבchereb/kheh'-reb/H2719drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

Commentary on Judges 20:2

HENRY_FULL · Judges 20:2
"x-p" At this chapter begins the story of Samson, the last of the judges of Israel whose story is recorded in this book, and next before Eli. The passages related concerning him are, from first to last, very surprising and uncommon. The figure he makes in this history is really great, and yet vastly different from that of his predecessors. We never find him at the head either of a court or of an army, never upon the throne of judgment nor in the field of battle, yet, in his own proper person, a great patriot of his country, and a terrible scourge and check to its enemies and oppressors; he was an eminent believer ( Heb. xi. 32 ) and a glorious type of him who with his own arm wrought salvation. The history of the rest of the judges commences from their advancement to that station, but Samson's begins with his birth, nay, with his conception, no less than an angel from heaven ushers him into the world, as a pattern of what should be afterwards done to John Baptist and to Christ. This is related in this chapter. I. The occasion of raising up this deliverer was the oppression of Israel by the Philistines, ver. 1 . II. His birth is foretold by an angel to his mother, ver. 2-5 . III. She relates the prediction to his father, ver. 6, 7 . IV. They both together have it again from the angel ( ver. 8-14 ), whom they treat with respect ( ver. 15-18 ), and who, to their great amazement, discovers his dignity at parting, ver. 19-23 . V. Samson is born, ver. 24, 25 . An Angel Appe

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 16:1

Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

Genesis 25:21

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Joshua 15:33

And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,

Joshua 19:41

And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,

1 Samuel 1:2

And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

Luke 1:7

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

Topics

Jews, theSword, the

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Judges 20:2.

Genesis 49:16

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

Exodus 12:6

And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. in: Heb. between the two evenings

Exodus 27:2

And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.

Exodus 38:2

And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass.

Genesis 28:3

And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; a multitude: Heb. an assembly of people

Genesis 48:4

And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.

Genesis 49:10

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Genesis 49:28

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

Frequently asked questions

What does Judges 20:2 say?

Judges 20:2 (King James Version) reads: "And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword."

Is Judges 20:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Judges 20:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Judges.

Reflect

As you read Judges 20:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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