This devastating civil war demonstrates the unrestrained cost of sin as 25,000 Benjaminite warriors perished in a single day.
So all of Benjamin who fell that day were twenty-five thousand men who draw the sword; all of these were valiant warriors. (v.46)
This verse highlights the staggering conclusion of a civil conflict within Israel that arose after an unspeakable crime was committed in the city of Gibeah, in the territory of Benjamin (Judges 19-21). The atrocity provoked the other tribes to unite in battle against Benjamin, leading to a sequence of tragic confrontations. The number of slain, twenty-five thousand, underscores the colossal scale of the conflict and how it nearly obliterated the tribe, leaving only a remnant behind. Historically, the period of the Judges extended roughly from 1380 BC until about 1050 BC, a tumultuous period in Israel’s history marked by cycles of rebellion, judgment, and intermittent repentance.
The phrase “valiant warriors” reminds us that the Benjamite fighters were courageous and formidable, yet they were still overcome by the collective might of the other Israelite tribes. This grim outcome illustrates the destructive consequence of unchecked sin within the community of God’s people. The atrocity at Gibeah (Judges 19:29) set in motion a tragedy that did not spare even the bravest among the tribe of Benjamin, showing that no measure of human strength can avert the effects of deep moral collapse. The collective heartbreak stirred Israel to recognize how far they had departed from God’s ways, reinforcing the principle that sin inevitably carries a costly penalty.
In light of the New Testament, situations like this foreshadow humanity’s universal need for a Savior. The violence and tragedy in Judges display how human efforts—no matter how heroic—cannot fully curb the destructive effects of sin. Ultimately, Jesus offers the perfect remedy (Romans 6:23). His compassion and sacrifice stand in stark contrast to the hostilities and ravages of civil war, providing a path of true reconciliation, peace, and spiritual restoration.
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Judges 20:46 meaning
So all of Benjamin who fell that day were twenty-five thousand men who draw the sword; all of these were valiant warriors. (v.46)
This verse highlights the staggering conclusion of a civil conflict within Israel that arose after an unspeakable crime was committed in the city of Gibeah, in the territory of Benjamin (Judges 19-21). The atrocity provoked the other tribes to unite in battle against Benjamin, leading to a sequence of tragic confrontations. The number of slain, twenty-five thousand, underscores the colossal scale of the conflict and how it nearly obliterated the tribe, leaving only a remnant behind. Historically, the period of the Judges extended roughly from 1380 BC until about 1050 BC, a tumultuous period in Israel’s history marked by cycles of rebellion, judgment, and intermittent repentance.
The phrase “valiant warriors” reminds us that the Benjamite fighters were courageous and formidable, yet they were still overcome by the collective might of the other Israelite tribes. This grim outcome illustrates the destructive consequence of unchecked sin within the community of God’s people. The atrocity at Gibeah (Judges 19:29) set in motion a tragedy that did not spare even the bravest among the tribe of Benjamin, showing that no measure of human strength can avert the effects of deep moral collapse. The collective heartbreak stirred Israel to recognize how far they had departed from God’s ways, reinforcing the principle that sin inevitably carries a costly penalty.
In light of the New Testament, situations like this foreshadow humanity’s universal need for a Savior. The violence and tragedy in Judges display how human efforts—no matter how heroic—cannot fully curb the destructive effects of sin. Ultimately, Jesus offers the perfect remedy (Romans 6:23). His compassion and sacrifice stand in stark contrast to the hostilities and ravages of civil war, providing a path of true reconciliation, peace, and spiritual restoration.