Judges 20:20

*Then the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arrayed for battle against them at Gibeah* (v.20). This scene unfolds during a tragic civil war in ancient Israel, situated in the period of the Judges, roughly between 1375 BC and 1050 BC. The verse reveals how a united Israelite army—the men of Israel—faced off against the Benjamites following grave moral failures detailed earlier in Judges 19. Gibeah itself was located in the tribal territory of Benjamin, just a short distance north of what would later be known as Jerusalem. In this reference, we see the physical gathering of troops that sets the stage for the ensuing conflicts.

*Then the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin* (v.20) also highlights how broken relationships and unaddressed sin led former allies—who shared the same faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—into bloody conflict. Though they were all descendants of Jacob, divisions escalated to the point of warfare. This highlights a repeated theme in the book of Judges: Israel struggled to remain faithful without a central unifying leader, ultimately pointing forward to the need for a righteous King, and prophetically anticipating Jesus, who came to unify and reconcile (Luke 1:32-33 NASB-95).

Furthermore, *the men of Israel arrayed for battle against them at Gibeah* (v.20) shows that the confrontation was not haphazard. It was meticulously planned, likely involving strategic positioning around Gibeah’s terrain. Although not a large metropolis, Gibeah was significant enough to serve as the rallying point for this conflict. This tragic sequence stems from extensive moral decay, revealing the devastating consequences that follow when God’s laws and love are forsaken (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NASB-95).

This verse captures the moment when a once-united people tragically turned on each other in battle.