Judges 20:11

In Judges 20:11, we read the words, *“Thus all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, united as one man.”* (v.11). This verse captures the moment when the Israelite tribes banded together with an uncharacteristic sense of shared resolve. They set aside their usual tribal independence to confront the outrage that occurred in Gibeah, which is located in the territory of Benjamin, just a short distance north of Jerusalem. The period described here is the time of the Judges, which scholars broadly place between 1380 BC and 1050 BC, well after Joshua led the people into the Promised Land but before the establishment of a formal monarchy under Saul. The gravity of the situation moved the Israelites to a rare display of unity, foreshadowing the ways God’s people are called to stand in solidarity against injustice.

When the text says the tribes were *“united as one man”* (v.11), it emphasizes not just a physical gathering but a heartfelt unity of purpose. At this time, Israel was often fractured by tribal boundaries and individual loyalties, lacking a central, stable leadership. Yet this verse reminds us that even without a single ruling king, God could move the entire nation into cooperative action. It can be linked to the New Testament’s call for unity among believers (see Ephesians 4:3-4 in NASB-95), suggesting the importance of communal solidarity under God’s guidance. Though the immediate cause was a tragic and dark event in Gibeah, the resulting unity becomes a powerful example of how shared commitment to justice and righteousness can temporarily overcome deep-seated divisions.

Moreover, this rally of the tribes against Gibeah highlights the seriousness of sin within the covenant community. Gibeah, which at one time could have been just another Benjamite city, now became the focal point of a national crisis because of the atrocities committed there. Historically, this narrative prepared the way for later unifications under Israel’s first kings, Saul (reigned around 1050 BC to 1010 BC) and then David (reigned around 1010 BC to 970 BC). The sense of alignment found here is meant to remind God’s people throughout history that, whether gathered for confrontation against sin or for mutual edification, unity is a key marker of those who follow the Lord.

All Israel came together as one in pursuit of justice.