Context No. 3784 of 4322 · Judges

Judges 20:14-18: in context

14The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. 15The children of Benjamin were counted on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, in addition to the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred chosen men. 16Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. 17The men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were counted four hundred thousand men who drew sword. All these were men of war. 18The children of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God. They asked, “Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” The LORD said, “Judah first.”

This passage sits within one of the darker episodes in Judges, a civil war among the tribes of Israel, brother against brother. The tribe of Benjamin arms for battle against the rest of Israel, and both sides prepare for a terrible internal conflict. It is a grievous thing, God's own people turned against each other.

We read it soberly, aware of the tragedy of division that has reached the point of bloodshed. Yet one detail is worth noticing: before they go up, the Israelites go to Bethel and ask counsel of God, who shall go up first for us? Even in this confused and painful conflict, there is at least the instinct to seek God's direction. Division among God's people is always a tragedy, and here it has gone catastrophically far. The passage stands as a sober warning of where unresolved conflict among God's people can lead, and a reminder that in every trouble, even the ones we have made, the right first step is to seek God's guidance rather than rushing ahead on our own.

Do I grieve division among God's people rather than fueling it, and when conflict arises, do I seek God's guidance first rather than rushing ahead in my own strength?

Sources

Judges 20:18: "The children of Israel... asked counsel of God. They asked, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? The LORD said, Judah first."
Judges 20:14: "The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together... to go out to battle against the children of Israel."
Psalm 133:1: "See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!"