Judges 20:1-6

Judges 20:1

Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

Then the advice of the Levite was taken as all of the tribes were represented except Benjamin.  From Dan to Beer-sheba meant that the response was total from all the tribes.  Dan was the northernmost city in Israel and Beer-sheba was the southernmost point.  There was even response from the tribes on the eastern side of the Jordan in the land of Gilead.  They all came to meet in Mizpeh.  The location of Mizpeh was somewhere in Gilead but the exact location is unknown.  It was the place where Jephthah met with the Lord.  (Judges 11:11)

Judges 20:2

And 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.

Then the heads of all the eleven tribes with their companies of men who came with them and formed one huge assembly of the people of God.  There were four hundred thousand footmen in their army that could handle the sword.  There was approximately six hundred thousand who drew the sword in Israel and since the majority of the wars in Canaan were at an end, they were able to bring 2/3 of that amount without worry of a sneak attack.

Judges 20:3

(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?

The children of Benjamin became aware of the fact that there was a big meeting held in Mizpeh and realized they were not invited which raised their suspicion that it might have been about them.  Then the leaders of the eleven tribes had asked them concerning the wickedness that came to the concubine, the rape and murder which never happened before in Israel since they left Egypt.

Judges 20:4

And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

The Levite then tells them the story as to what happened in Gibeah when he and his concubine came into the city to lodge.  He was making sure they know that this was the right Gibeah they were speaking of as he tells them it was Gibeah which belonged to the tribe of Benjamin.

Judges 20:5

And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.

He then proceeds to tell the story as to what happened when he went into the house of the old man to lodge.  The men of Gibeah had surrounded the house he was in and they had intent to rape and kill him.  Instead the men had forced the concubine.  The word “forced” may also be understood as “debased, defiled, or ravished.”  They did these things to the point that she had died from their abuse.  The Levite omitted the part where he willingly gave them his concubine.  If this was accepted practice in those days, then he would have nothing to worry about but if not, then he might have to share in the cause of her death.

Judges 20:6

And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.