King James Version

What Does Judges 20:13 Mean?

Judges 20:13 in the King James Version says “Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put aw...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:”

Judges 20:13 · KJV

Context

11

So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man. knit: Heb. fellows

12

And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?

13

Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:

14

But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

15

And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah (בְנֵי בְלִיַּעַל, benei beliya'al)—'sons of Belial' means worthless, wicked men (same phrase described Gibeah's rapists in 19:22). Israel demands extradition of specific perpetrators: that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel (נְמִיתֵם וּנְבַעֲרָה רָעָה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, nemitem u-neva'arah ra'ah mi-yisra'el)—the phrase 'put away evil' (בָּעַר רָע, ba'ar ra, literally 'burn away evil') appears throughout Deuteronomy as covenant obligation for maintaining holiness (Deuteronomy 13:5; 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21-22, 24).

But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel (וְלֹא אָבוּ בְנֵי בִנְיָמִן לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקוֹל אֲחֵיהֶם, velo avu benei binyamin lishmo'a beqol acheihem)—Benjamin's refusal is emphatic: 'would not' (אָבָה, avah) expresses willful rejection. The text stresses relationship: 'their brethren' (אֲחֵיהֶם, acheihem), emphasizing that Benjamin rejects brother tribes' legitimate demands. This refusal transforms criminal justice into civil war. Benjamin chooses tribal solidarity with criminals over covenant loyalty to God and Israel. Their refusal demonstrates the same 'everyone did what was right in his own eyes' mentality that produced the crime itself. When loyalty to our people group supersedes loyalty to righteousness, we become accomplices to evil.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The demand for extradition followed established covenant law for dealing with covenant-breaking wickedness. Deuteronomy 13:12-15 prescribed corporate punishment for cities that tolerated such evil. Benjamin's refusal to surrender the Gibeonite perpetrators made the entire tribe guilty of harboring criminals—a capital offense under covenant law. This created a true dilemma: Benjamin guilty for refusing justice, Israel guilty for escalating to total war rather than proportionate response.

Reflection Questions

  1. When does loyalty to your group, family, denomination, or nation lead you to defend the indefensible?
  2. How do you choose tribal solidarity over covenant righteousness?
  3. What does it mean to 'put away evil from among you' in church discipline and personal life?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וְעַתָּ֡ה1 of 20
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

תְּנוּ֩2 of 20

“Now therefore deliver”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

אֶת3 of 20
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֨ים4 of 20
H376

a 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)

בְּנֵֽי5 of 20

“But the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

בְלִיַּ֜עַל6 of 20

“of Belial”

H1100

without profit, worthlessness; by extension, destruction, wickedness

אֲשֶׁ֤ר7 of 20
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בַּגִּבְעָה֙8 of 20

“which are in Gibeah”

H1390

gibah; the name of three places in palestine

וּנְמִיתֵ֔ם9 of 20

“that we may put them to death”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

וּנְבַֽעֲרָ֥ה10 of 20

“and put away”

H1197

to be(-come) brutish

רָעָ֖ה11 of 20

“evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃12 of 20

“from Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

וְלֹ֤א13 of 20
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

אָבוּ֙14 of 20

“would”

H14

to breathe after, i.e., (figuratively) to be acquiescent

בִּנְיָמִ֔ן15 of 20

“of Benjamin”

H1144

binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory

לִשְׁמֹ֕עַ16 of 20

“not hearken”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

בְּק֖וֹל17 of 20

“to the voice”

H6963

a voice or sound

אֲחֵיהֶ֥ם18 of 20

“of their brethren”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

בְּנֵֽי19 of 20

“But the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃20 of 20

“from Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 20:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 20:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 17:12Judges 19:22Deuteronomy 13:132 Chronicles 25:20Romans 1:32Ecclesiastes 11:10

Places in This Verse

Gibeah 1Settlement · Modern: Tel el Ful · 31.82°N, 35.23°E45 verses across 6 books
View all places in Judges 20 →

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