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Judges 20

Judg. 20:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
Theng all the children
ben (Hebrew #1121)
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like 1, 251, etc.))
KJV usage: + afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, + spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
Pronounce: bane
Origin: from {SI 11129}1129{/SI}
of Israel
Yisra'el (Hebrew #3478)
from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: --Israel.
Pronounce: yis-raw-ale'
went out
yatsa' (Hebrew #3318)
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
KJV usage: X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any time, X to (and fro), utter.
Pronounce: yaw-tsaw'
Origin: a primitive root
, and the congregation
`edah (Hebrew #5712)
a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
KJV usage: assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare 5713.
Pronounce: ay-daw'
Origin: feminine of 5707 in the original sense of fixture
was gathered together
qahal (Hebrew #6950)
to convoke
KJV usage: assemble (selves) (together), gather (selves) (together).
Pronounce: 'kaw-hal'
Origin: a primitive root
as one
'echad (Hebrew #259)
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
KJV usage: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), + eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
Pronounce: ekh-awd'
Origin: a numeral from 258
man
'iysh (Hebrew #376)
a 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)
KJV usage: also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare 802.
Pronounce: eesh
Origin: contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant)
, fromh Dan
Dan (Hebrew #1835)
judge; Dan, one of the sons of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; likewise a place in Palestine colonized by them
KJV usage: Dan.
Pronounce: dawn
Origin: from 1777
even to Beer-sheba
B'er (Hebrew #884)
well of an oath; Beer-Sheba, a place in Palestine
KJV usage: Beer-shebah.
Pronounce: Sheba`
Origin: from 875 and 7651 (in the sense of 7650)
, with the land
'erets (Hebrew #776)
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
KJV usage: X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
Pronounce: eh'-rets
Origin: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm
of Gilead
Gil`ad (Hebrew #1568)
Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites
KJV usage: Gilead, Gileadite.
Pronounce: ghil-awd'
Origin: probably from 1567
, unto the Lord
Yhovah (Hebrew #3068)
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
KJV usage: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
Pronounce: yeh-ho-vaw'
Origin: from 1961
in Mizpeh
Mitspah (Hebrew #4709)
Mitspah, the name of two places in Palestine
KJV usage: Mitspah. (This seems rather to be only an orthographic variation of 4708 when "in pause".)
Pronounce: mits-paw'
Origin: feminine of 4708
k.
g
Judg. 20:11• 11So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man. (Judg. 20:11)
;
Judg. 21:5• 5And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the Lord? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the Lord to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death. (Judg. 21:5)
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Josh. 22:12• 12And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them. (Josh. 22:12)
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1 Sam. 11:7• 7And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. (1 Sam. 11:7)
h
1 Sam. 3:20• 20And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. (1 Sam. 3:20)
;
2 Sam. 3:10• 10To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba. (2 Sam. 3:10)
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2 Sam. 24:2• 2For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. (2 Sam. 24:2)
k
Judg. 11:11• 11Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh. (Judg. 11:11)
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1 Sam. 7:5• 5And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord. (1 Sam. 7:5)
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1 Sam. 10:17• 17And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh; (1 Sam. 10:17)

More on:

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Beer-Sheba; Beer-shebah,
Congregation,
Gilead,
Israel,
Man,
Mizpeh

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-7:  The Levite in a general assembly declares his wrong.
8-11:  The decree of the assembly.
12-17:  The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites.
18-25:  The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand.
26-48:  They destroy by a stratagem all the Benjamites, except six hundred.
Then all.
Judg. 20:2,8,11• 2And 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.
 8And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house.
 11So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man. (Judg. 20:2,8,11)
;
Judg. 21:5• 5And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the Lord? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the Lord to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death. (Judg. 21:5)
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Deut. 13:12‑18• 12If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the Lord thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
 13Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
 14Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
 15Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.
 16And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the Lord thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
 17And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and show thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;
 18When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord thy God. (Deut. 13:12‑18)
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Josh. 22:12• 12And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them. (Josh. 22:12)
as one man.
1 Sam. 11:7‑8• 7And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
 8And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. (1 Sam. 11:7‑8)
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2 Sam. 19:14• 14And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. (2 Sam. 19:14)
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Ezra 3:1• 1And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. (Ezra 3:1)
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Neh. 8:1• 1And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. (Neh. 8:1)
from Dan.
Judg. 18:29• 29And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first. (Judg. 18:29)
;
1 Sam. 3:20• 20And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. (1 Sam. 3:20)
;
2 Sam. 3:10• 10To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba. (2 Sam. 3:10)
;
2 Sam. 24:2• 2For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. (2 Sam. 24:2)
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1 Chron. 21:2• 2And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. (1 Chron. 21:2)
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2 Chron. 30:5• 5So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written. (2 Chron. 30:5)
with the.
Num. 32:1,40• 1Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;
 40And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein. (Num. 32:1,40)
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Josh. 17:1• 1There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan. (Josh. 17:1)
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2 Sam. 2:9• 9And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. (2 Sam. 2:9)
unto the.
Judg. 20:18,26• 18And 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.
 26Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. (Judg. 20:18,26)
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Judg. 11:11• 11Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh. (Judg. 11:11)
in Mizpeh.
Judg. 10:17• 17Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. (Judg. 10:17)
;
Judg. 11:11• 11Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh. (Judg. 11:11)
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Josh. 15:38• 38And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel, (Josh. 15:38)
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Josh. 18:26• 26And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah, (Josh. 18:26)
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1 Sam. 7:5‑6• 5And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord.
 6And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. (1 Sam. 7:5‑6)
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1 Sam. 10:17• 17And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh; (1 Sam. 10:17)
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2 Kings 25:23• 23And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. (2 Kings 25:23)
It does not appear that the Israelites on this occasion, were summoned by the authority of any one common head, but they came together by the consent and agreement, as it were, of one common heart, fired with a holy zeal for the honour of God and Israel.
The place of their meeting was Mizpeh; they gathered together unto the Lord there; for Mizpeh was so very near to Shiloh, that their encampment might very well be supposed to reach from Mizpeh to Shiloh.
Shiloh was a small town, and therefore, when there was a general meeting of the people to present themselves before God, they chose Mizpeh for their head quarters, which was the next adjoining city of note; perhaps, because they were not willing to give that trouble to Shiloh, which so great an assembly would occasion; it being the residence of the priests that attended the tabernacle.
• The assembling together, the actions and the sentiments of the eleven tribes presented above all a fair appearance of unity (vs. 1, 8, 11), for the smallest tribe, and what was more a guilty one, was the only one absent. The center of the people's unity was acknowledged, for it was "unto Jehovah" that they gathered together in Mizpeh (ver. 1). What then was wanting in Israel? One thing, "the first love," which finds expression both towards God and towards those that are His. (“Manifestation of the Ruin and Final Restoration: Breach and Recovery: Judges 20” by H.L. Rossier)

J. N. Darby Translation

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1
And all the children of Israel went forth, and the assembly gathered together as one man, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah at Mizpaha.

JND Translation Notes

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a
Called "Mizpeh" in Josh. 18.26.