King James Version
Judges 20:20 in the King James Version says “And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight agains...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.”
Judges 20:20 · KJV
And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God , and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.
And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.
KJV Study — Public Domain
“went out”
H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
“And the men”
H376a 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)
“of Israel”
H3478he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
“against Benjamin”
H1144binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
“put themselves in array”
H6186to set in a row, i.e., arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications)
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
“And the men”
H376a 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)
“of Israel”
H3478he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
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.
Judges 20:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.