Judges 20:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Israel, apart from Benjamin, numbers four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them experienced men of war.
What Does Judges 20:17 Mean?
The narrator sets the two forces side by side. Against Benjamin's roughly twenty-six thousand, Israel fields four hundred thousand swordsmen, 'all these were men of war.' The contrast is stark, more than fifteen to one. By any human reckoning, the outcome should be swift and certain in Israel's favor. The stage seems set for an easy victory.
Yet the verses to come will overturn that expectation, and the overturning is part of the chapter's message. Overwhelming numbers do not guarantee God's favor or success. Israel's cause may be just, but the coming defeats will humble their confidence and drive them, at last, to fast and weep and seek the LORD in earnest. The verse quietly sets up a lesson the Scriptures return to again and again: the battle is not finally decided by the size of the army, but by the hand of God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 20:17
What does Judges 20:17 mean?
Israel, apart from Benjamin, numbers four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them experienced men of war.