Judges 20:46 Meaning and Explanation
“So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →In all, twenty-five thousand swordsmen of Benjamin fall that day, all of them men of valor.
What Does Judges 20:46 Mean?
The narrator tallies the day's full toll: twenty-five thousand Benjamite swordsmen have fallen, and again he calls them 'men of valour.' A tribe that began the conflict with twenty-six thousand fighting men is nearly wiped out. The repetition of their valor, now over the whole number, deepens the grief. These were brave men of Israel, and they lie dead by the thousands.
The staggering count is meant to sober us, not satisfy us. This is no celebration of slaughter but a lament over the wages of stubborn sin. Benjamin's refusal to surrender the guilty, their choice to defend evil and resist their brothers, has brought a whole tribe to the brink of extinction. The verse stands as a solemn witness to how costly rebellion against God's justice can be, and how a single unrepented evil, defended rather than confessed, can spread ruin far beyond where it began.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 20:46
What does Judges 20:46 mean?
In all, twenty-five thousand swordsmen of Benjamin fall that day, all of them men of valor.