King James Version
What Does Judges 20:3 Mean?
“(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?”
Judges 20:3 · KJV
Context
1
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.
2
And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.
3
(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?
4
And the Levite , the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. the Levite: Heb. the man the Levite
5
And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead. forced: Heb. humbled
Commentary
KJV Study CommentaryNow the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh—the Benjamites' absence from this assembly is ominous. They were notified of the gathering but chose not to attend, signaling defiance and tribal solidarity with Gibeah's criminals rather than covenant loyalty to Israel. Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness? (וַיֹּאמְרוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל דַּבְּרוּ אֵיכָה נִהְיְתָה הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת)—the demand for testimony shows proper judicial procedure: hear the case before rendering judgment.
The question how was this wickedness? uses ra'ah (רָעָה, 'evil, wickedness'), the same term used throughout Genesis for grave sins. Israel recognizes that Gibeah's crime demands corporate response. Yet Benjamin's absence reveals the tribal fractures beneath Israel's surface unity. When tribal loyalty supersedes covenant loyalty, even God's people divide over justice. This foreshadows the coming civil war—not because Israel was wrong to address the crime, but because Benjamin chose clan over covenant. The verse demonstrates that remaining silent or absent when evil is exposed constitutes complicity.
The question how was this wickedness? uses ra'ah (רָעָה, 'evil, wickedness'), the same term used throughout Genesis for grave sins. Israel recognizes that Gibeah's crime demands corporate response. Yet Benjamin's absence reveals the tribal fractures beneath Israel's surface unity. When tribal loyalty supersedes covenant loyalty, even God's people divide over justice. This foreshadows the coming civil war—not because Israel was wrong to address the crime, but because Benjamin chose clan over covenant. The verse demonstrates that remaining silent or absent when evil is exposed constitutes complicity.
KJV Study — Public Domain
Historical & Cultural Context
Benjamin's tribal territory was small but strategically located, including Jerusalem's hill country (still Jebusite at this time). The tribe's fierce reputation (Genesis 49:27, 'Benjamin is a ravenous wolf') and skilled warriors (20:16 mentions 700 left-handed slingers) made them formidable despite being outnumbered. Their refusal to attend Mizpah showed dangerous independence.
Reflection Questions
- When do family, tribal, or denominational loyalties tempt you to defend the indefensible?
- How does absence or silence when wickedness is addressed constitute complicity?
- What does proper justice require—both hearing truth and acting on it?
Original Language Analysis
Hebrew · 16 wordsוַֽיִּשְׁמְעוּ֙1 of 16
“heard”
H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
בְּנֵ֣י2 of 16
“Now the children”
H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בִנְיָמִ֔ן3 of 16
“of Benjamin”
H1144binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
כִּֽי4 of 16
H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עָל֥וּ5 of 16
“were gone up”
H5927to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
בְּנֵ֣י6 of 16
“Now the children”
H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל7 of 16
“of Israel”
H3478he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
בְּנֵ֣י10 of 16
“Now the children”
H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל11 of 16
“of Israel”
H3478he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
דַּבְּר֕וּ12 of 16
“Tell”
H1696perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
נִֽהְיְתָ֖ה14 of 16
“us how was”
H1961to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
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 20:3 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 20:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge