Judges 21:10 Meaning and Explanation
“And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The assembly sent twelve thousand warriors to strike down the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead, including the women and children.
What Does Judges 21:10 Mean?
The plan turns to violence. The congregation dispatches twelve thousand of its bravest men to put the people of Jabesh-gilead to the sword. The command is sweeping and severe. The narrative records it without praise, letting the starkness of the order speak for itself within a book that repeatedly shows Israel sliding deeper into ruin.
The chronicler is not endorsing this deed but exposing how far a people can drift when each acts by his own judgment and no one truly seeks the LORD's mind. The chapter belongs to the dark close of Judges, where human plans, however earnest, keep multiplying sorrow. Read against the whole of Scripture, it drives the heart to mourn such violence and to yearn all the more for the Prince of Peace, in whom God's will is done without bloodshed and lost ones are gathered by love.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 21:10
What does Judges 21:10 mean?
The assembly sent twelve thousand warriors to strike down the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead, including the women and children.