Judges 20:33
Then we read, *“Then all the men of Israel arose from their place and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar; and the men of Israel in ambush broke out of their place, even out of Maareh-geba.”* (Judges 20:33). After the Levite’s concubine was brutally wronged (described in Judges 19), eleven tribes of Israel arrayed themselves against the tribe of Benjamin. The verse describes a moment in the larger civil war, when the main Israelite forces set up their formation at Baal-tamar while a hidden contingent waited in ambush near Maareh-geba. By doing so, Israel hoped to draw the Benjamite forces into a vulnerable position.
The geographical setting underscores the significance of strategic planning. *They…arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar* (Judges 20:33) places the main camp at a site east of Gibeah thought to be near a date-palm grove, though the exact location is uncertain. Meanwhile, *the men of Israel in ambush broke out of their place…out of Maareh-geba* (Judges 20:33) suggests a separate concealed force located near a rocky or forested area. Believed to be slightly south of Gibeah, Maareh-geba may have been dotted with vantage points ideal for waiting forces to launch a surprise attack. This setting takes place during the period of the judges, often dated around 1380–1050 BC, when Israel was still a confederation of tribes and lacked centralized leadership.
In broader context, this elaborate ambush overturned previous defeats Israel suffered at the hands of Benjamin. Though Israel had neglected certain matters of justice and holiness, they united here to confront Benjamin’s sin and saw a change in circumstances after humbling themselves and seeking God’s guidance (Judges 20:26–28). Once the signal for ambush was given, the hidden soldiers emerged, creating panic and leading to a decisive victory, a solemn reminder that God’s justice would still be carried out among His own people.
This verse demonstrates Israel’s determined and well-coordinated strategy, standing as an example of God’s people addressing wrong by uniting in a time of crisis.
This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]
Other Relevant Commentaries:
- Deuteronomy 33:18-19 meaning. Moses pronounces blessings on the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar. He asks them to rejoice because the Suzerain God will bless each one in his enterprise.
- Judges 1:27-29 meaning. The tribe of Manasseh fails to fully take possession of several key cities and their surrounding villages, allowing the Canaanites to remain in the land. Additionally, when Israel became strong, they subjected the Canaanites to slavery instead of completely driving them out. The tribe of Ephraim also failed to expel the Canaanites living in Gezer, resulting in the Canaanites living among them.
- Numbers 1:20-46 meaning. Verses 20 – 46 relates the count of the number of men qualified for warfare by each tribe. The last three verses record the totals.