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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 20:2 The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God's people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/20-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/07_Jdg_20_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 20:2 - The Decree of the Assembly" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God's people: 400,000 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class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/judges/20.htm">New International Version</a> The leaders of all the people of the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God&#8217s people, four hundred thousand men armed with swords. <a href="/nlt/judges/20.htm">New Living Translation</a> The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel—400,000 warriors armed with swords—took their positions in the assembly of the people of God. <a href="/esv/judges/20.htm">English Standard Version</a> And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword. <a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords. <a href="/kjv/judges/20.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/judges/20.htm">New King James Version</a> And the leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot soldiers who drew the sword. <a href="/nasb_/judges/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And the leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot soldiers who drew the sword. <a href="/nasb/judges/20.htm">NASB 1995</a> The chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 foot soldiers who drew the sword. <a href="/nasb77/judges/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And the chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 foot soldiers who drew the sword. <a href="/lsb/judges/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And the chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 foot soldiers who draw the sword. <a href="/amp/judges/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a> The chiefs of all the people of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand men on foot who drew the sword. <a href="/csb/judges/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The leaders of all the people and of all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: four hundred thousand armed foot soldiers. <a href="/hcsb/judges/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The leaders of all the people and of all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God&#8217s people: 400,000 armed foot soldiers. <a href="/asv/judges/20.htm">American Standard Version</a> And the chiefs 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. <a href="/erv/judges/20.htm">English Revised Version</a> And the chiefs 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. <a href="/gwt/judges/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The leaders of all Israel's tribes took their places in the congregation of God's people. There were 400,000 foot soldiers with swords. <a href="/gnt/judges/20.htm">Good News Translation</a> The leaders of all the tribes of Israel were present at this gathering of God's people, and there were 400,000 foot soldiers. <a href="/isv/judges/20.htm">International Standard Version</a> The officials of the entire nation, including every tribe of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God: 400,000 foot soldiers, all of them expert swordsmen. <a href="/msb/judges/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God?s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords. <a href="/net/judges/20.htm">NET Bible</a> The leaders of all the people from all the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God's people, which numbered four hundred thousand sword-wielding foot soldiers. <a href="/nheb/judges/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The leaders 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 who drew sword. <a href="/wbt/judges/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> 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. <a href="/web/judges/20.htm">World English Bible</a> The chiefs 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 who drew sword. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/judges/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, station themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen drawing sword. <a href="/ylt/judges/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, station themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen drawing sword. <a href="/slt/judges/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And the chiefs of all the people of all the tribes of Israel will be drawn out in the gathering of the people of God, four hundred thousand men, footmen, drawing swords.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/judges/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And all the chiefs of the people, and all the tribes of Israel met together in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen fit for war. <a href="/cpdv/judges/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And all the chiefs of the people, and every tribe of Israel, convened as an assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot soldiers for battle. <a href="/nabre/judges/20.htm">New American Bible</a> The leaders of all the people, all the staff-bearers of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God—four hundred thousand foot soldiers who carried swords. <a href="/nrsvce/judges/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> The chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot-soldiers bearing arms.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/judges/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And the chiefs of all the families 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 who could draw sword. <a href="/hpbt/judges/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And the tribes of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, stood in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand Foot Soldiers drawing a sword<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/judges/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And the chiefs 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.-- <a href="/sep/judges/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And all the tribes of Israel stood before the Lord in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword. <a href="/parallel/judges/20-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=5936" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm">The Decree of the Assembly</a> 1Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah. 2<a href="/hebrew/6438.htm" title="6438: pin·nō·wṯ (N-fpc) -- A corner. Feminine of pen; an angle; by implication, a pinnacle; figuratively, a chieftain.">The leaders</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">of all</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: hā·‘ām (Art:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">the people</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kōl (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">and all</a> <a href="/hebrew/7626.htm" title="7626: šiḇ·ṭê (N-mpc) -- Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe. From an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, i.e. a stick Or a clan.">the tribes</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/3320.htm" title="3320: way·yiṯ·yaṣ·ṣə·ḇū (Conj-w:: V-Hitpael-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To set or station oneself, take one's stand. A primitive root; to place; reflexively, to station, offer, continue.">presented themselves</a> <a href="/hebrew/6951.htm" title="6951: biq·hal (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- Assembly, convocation, congregation. From qahal; assemblage.">in the assembly</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of God’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘am (N-msc) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">people:</a> <a href="/hebrew/702.htm" title="702: ’ar·ba‘ (Number-fs) -- Four. Masculine oarbaah; from raba'; four.">400,000</a> <a href="/hebrew/3967.htm" title="3967: mê·’ō·wṯ (Number-fp) -- Hundred. Or metyah; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction."></a> <a href="/hebrew/505.htm" title="505: ’e·lep̄ (Number-ms) -- A thousand. Prop, the same as 'eleph; hence a thousand."></a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">men</a> <a href="/hebrew/7273.htm" title="7273: raḡ·lî (Adj-ms) -- On foot. From regel; a footman.">on foot,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8025.htm" title="8025: šō·lêp̄ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To draw out or off. A primitive root; to pull out, up or off.">armed</a> <a href="/hebrew/2719.htm" title="2719: ḥā·reḇ (N-fs) -- A sword. From charab; drought; also a cutting instrument, as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement.">with swords.</a> 3(Meanwhile the Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites asked, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/deuteronomy/13-12.htm">Deuteronomy 13:12-18</a> If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said / that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known), / then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you, ... <a href="/joshua/22-12.htm">Joshua 22:12</a> And when they heard this, the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them. <a href="/1_samuel/11-7.htm">1 Samuel 11:7</a> He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out together as one man. <a href="/1_samuel/15-4.htm">1 Samuel 15:4</a> So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. <a href="/1_samuel/17-47.htm">1 Samuel 17:47</a> And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.” <a href="/2_samuel/19-14.htm">2 Samuel 19:14</a> So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.” <a href="/2_samuel/20-14.htm">2 Samuel 20:14</a> Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him. <a href="/1_kings/12-21.htm">1 Kings 12:21</a> And when Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against the house of Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon. <a href="/2_chronicles/30-1.htm">2 Chronicles 30:1</a> Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. <a href="/ezra/10-9.htm">Ezra 10:9</a> So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain. <a href="/nehemiah/5-7.htm">Nehemiah 5:7</a> and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them <a href="/nehemiah/7-73.htm">Nehemiah 7:73</a> So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. And by the seventh month the Israelites had settled in their towns. <a href="/matthew/18-20.htm">Matthew 18:20</a> For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.” <a href="/acts/1-15.htm">Acts 1:15</a> In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said, <a href="/acts/15-6.htm">Acts 15:6</a> So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>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.drew sword<a href="/judges/20-15.htm">Judges 20:15,17</a> And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men… <a href="/judges/8-10.htm">Judges 8:10</a> Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.<a href="/2_samuel/24-9.htm">2 Samuel 24:9</a> And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/18-16.htm">Armed</a> <a href="/joshua/22-30.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/judges/11-11.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/judges/16-23.htm">Chiefs</a> <a href="/judges/5-11.htm">Drawing</a> <a href="/judges/9-52.htm">Drew</a> <a href="/judges/18-17.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/judges/20-1.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/10-18.htm">Leaders</a> <a href="/judges/14-5.htm">Meeting</a> <a href="/judges/19-13.htm">Places</a> <a href="/judges/6-19.htm">Presented</a> <a href="/judges/9-35.htm">Soldiers</a> <a href="/judges/16-25.htm">Stand</a> <a href="/joshua/24-1.htm">Station</a> <a href="/judges/18-27.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/numbers/14-43.htm">Swords</a> <a href="/judges/19-6.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/judges/16-27.htm">Thousand</a> <a href="/judges/18-1.htm">Tribes</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/20-15.htm">Armed</a> <a href="/judges/21-5.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/1_samuel/9-22.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-38.htm">Chiefs</a> <a href="/judges/20-17.htm">Drawing</a> <a href="/judges/20-15.htm">Drew</a> <a href="/judges/20-10.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/judges/20-3.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-38.htm">Leaders</a> <a href="/judges/21-8.htm">Meeting</a> <a href="/judges/20-33.htm">Places</a> <a href="/judges/21-4.htm">Presented</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-10.htm">Soldiers</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-20.htm">Stand</a> <a href="/1_samuel/12-7.htm">Station</a> <a href="/judges/20-15.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/judges/20-15.htm">Swords</a> <a href="/judges/20-14.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/judges/20-10.htm">Thousand</a> <a href="/judges/20-10.htm">Tribes</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 20</div>1. <a href="/judges/20-1.htm">The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong</a> 8. <a href="/judges/20-8.htm">The decree of the assembly</a> 12. <a href="/judges/20-12.htm">The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites</a> 18. <a href="/judges/20-18.htm">The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand</a> 26. <a href="/judges/20-26.htm">They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The leaders, or "chiefs," represent the tribal heads and elders who were responsible for making decisions and guiding the people. This gathering signifies a national crisis, as the tribes come together to address the grievous sin committed in Gibeah. The unity here contrasts with the frequent disunity seen throughout the Book of Judges, where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (<a href="/judges/21-25.htm">Judges 21:25</a>). This assembly is reminiscent of earlier gatherings, such as those under Moses and Joshua, where the tribes united for a common purpose.presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people The assembly of God's people refers to a formal gathering, often for religious or judicial purposes. This assembly is convened at Mizpah (<a href="/judges/20.htm">Judges 20:1</a>), a significant location for Israelite gatherings and covenant renewals. The phrase underscores the theocratic nature of Israel, where God is the ultimate authority, and the people are His covenant community. This assembly is not merely a political or military council but a gathering under divine oversight, seeking to address sin and injustice in accordance with God's law.400,000 men on foot, armed with swords The mention of 400,000 men indicates a substantial military force, reflecting the seriousness of the situation. This number suggests a full mobilization of Israel's fighting men, emphasizing the gravity of the offense and the need for decisive action. The men being "on foot" and "armed with swords" highlights their readiness for battle, prepared to execute judgment on the tribe of Benjamin for harboring the perpetrators of the crime in Gibeah. This military assembly is reminiscent of earlier battles in Israel's history, such as those led by Joshua, where the Israelites fought to uphold God's commands and maintain the holiness of the land.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/l/leaders_of_israel.htm">Leaders of Israel</a> These are the heads or chiefs of the tribes of Israel, responsible for guiding and making decisions for their people. 2. <a href="/topical/t/tribes_of_israel.htm">Tribes of Israel</a> The twelve tribes descended from the sons of Jacob, representing the nation of Israel. 3. <a href="/topical/a/assembly_of_god's_people.htm">Assembly of God’s People</a> A gathering of the Israelites, often for decision-making, worship, or addressing significant issues. 4. <a href="/topical/f/four_hundred_thousand_men.htm">Four Hundred Thousand Men</a> A large military force assembled from the tribes, indicating the seriousness of the situation they were addressing. 5. <a href="/topical/a/armed_with_swords.htm">Armed with Swords</a> This detail highlights the readiness for battle, suggesting a grave conflict or threat.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/unity_in_crisis.htm">Unity in Crisis</a> The gathering of all tribes signifies the importance of unity among God’s people, especially in times of crisis. Believers today should strive for unity in addressing challenges within the church and community. <a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_responsibility.htm">Leadership and Responsibility</a> The leaders taking their places highlights the responsibility of those in leadership to guide and protect their people. Christian leaders are called to be shepherds, leading with wisdom and integrity. <a href="/topical/p/preparedness_for_spiritual_battle.htm">Preparedness for Spiritual Battle</a> The armed men symbolize readiness for battle. Christians are reminded to be spiritually prepared, wearing the full armor of God to stand against spiritual challenges. <a href="/topical/s/seeking_god's_guidance.htm">Seeking God’s Guidance</a> The assembly of God’s people suggests a collective seeking of God’s will. In decision-making, believers should prioritize prayer and seeking divine guidance. <a href="/topical/t/the_seriousness_of_sin.htm">The Seriousness of Sin</a> The context of <a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm">Judges 20</a> involves addressing sin within the community. This teaches the importance of confronting sin and maintaining holiness within the body of Christ.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 20</a> <a href="/q/bible's_view_on_women_worship_leaders.htm">What does the Bible say about women worship leaders?</a> <a href="/q/is_30,000_israelite_deaths_credible.htm">How reliable is the claim of 30,000 Israelite deaths (1 Samuel 4:10) given historical population estimates of that era? </a> <a href="/q/what_is_community_bible_study.htm">What is Community Bible Study?</a> <a href="/q/is_288,000_men_in_1_chron._27_1_realistic.htm">In 1 Chronicles 27:1, can Israel realistically have 24,000 men per monthly division, implying a total army of 288,000? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) The chief.--The Hebrew word is pinnoth, "corner-stones," as in <a href="/1_samuel/14-38.htm" title="And Saul said, Draw you near here, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin has been this day.">1Samuel 14:38</a>; <a href="/isaiah/19-13.htm" title="The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.">Isaiah 19:13</a>.Four hundred thousand.--Hence we learn the interesting fact that in their struggles against the Canaanites the number of the people had been diminished one-third--i.e., to a far greater extent than they had been diminished by the wanderings in the wilderness. For at the census in the first year of the wanderings their numbers were (including 35,400 of Benjamin) 603,550 (<a href="/numbers/1-46.htm" title="Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.">Numbers 1:46</a>); and in the census in the last year they were 601,730, excluding the Benjamites, who, unlike the other tribes, had increased in numbers, for they were then 45,600 in number.Footmen.--The Israelites were forbidden to use either chariots or cavalry. (See Notes on <a href="/judges/1-19.htm" title="And the LORD was with Judah; and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.">Judges 1:19</a>; <a href="/judges/4-3.htm" title="And the children of Israel cried to the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.">Judges 4:3</a>.) . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 2. - The chief. The word here used means the corner-stones of a building. Hence it is applied to the chief men, who, as it were, bind and keep together the whole people. Their presence at this great meeting is mentioned to show that it was a regularly constituted assembly of all Israel. The same phrase occurs <a href="/1_samuel/14-38.htm">1 Samuel 14:38</a>, and <a href="/isaiah/19-13.htm">Isaiah 19:13</a> (the stay of the tribes, A.V.). The numbers (400,000) are of course those of the whole congregation. The assembly of the people of God. So, <a href="/numbers/16-3.htm">Numbers 16:3</a>; <a href="/numbers/20-4.htm">Numbers 20:4</a>, Israel is called the congregation of the Lord; and <a href="/nehemiah/13-1.htm">Nehemiah 13:1</a>, the congregation of God. Not dissimilar was the first great council of the Church, consisting of the Church (ἡ ἐκελησια) i.e. the assembly of disciples) and the apostles and elders (who were the cornerstones, the lapides angulares, thereof). See <a href="/acts/15-4.htm">Acts 15:4, 6, 12</a>. Four hundred thousand. See ver. 17. The enumeration in the wilderness gave 603,550 (<a href="/numbers/2-32.htm">Numbers 2:32</a>; <a href="/numbers/11-21.htm">Numbers 11:21</a>), and at the second numbering 601,730 (<a href="/numbers/26-51.htm">Numbers 26:51</a>). In <a href="/1_samuel/11-8.htm">1 Samuel 11:8</a> a general assembly of the whole people, summoned by sending a piece of the flesh of a yoke of oxen "throughout all the coasts of Israel," amounted to 330,000. David's numbering gave of Israel 800,000, and of Judah 500,000, in all 1,300,000; but these were not assembled together, but numbered at their own homes. Jehoshaphat's men of war amounted to 1,160,000 according to <a href="/2_chronicles/17-14.htm">2 Chronicles 17:14-18</a>. In the time of Amaziah there were of Judah alone 300,000 men able to go forth to war (<a href="/2_chronicles/24-6.htm">2 Chronicles 24:6</a>). <a href="/commentaries/judges/20-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>The leaders פִּנּ֣וֹת (pin·nō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6438.htm">Strong's 6438: </a> An angle, a pinnacle, a chieftain of all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> The whole, all, any, every the people הָעָ֗ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock and all כֹּ֚ל (kōl) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> The whole, all, any, every the tribes שִׁבְטֵ֣י (šiḇ·ṭê) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7626.htm">Strong's 7626: </a> Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc presented themselves וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֞וּ (way·yiṯ·yaṣ·ṣə·ḇū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3320.htm">Strong's 3320: </a> To set or station oneself, take one's stand in the assembly בִּקְהַ֖ל (biq·hal) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6951.htm">Strong's 6951: </a> Assembly, convocation, congregation of God’s הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative people: עַ֣ם (‘am) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock 400,000 אַרְבַּ֨ע (’ar·ba‘) Number - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_702.htm">Strong's 702: </a> Four men אִ֥ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> A man as an individual, a male person on foot, רַגְלִ֖י (raḡ·lî) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7273.htm">Strong's 7273: </a> A footman armed שֹׁ֥לֵֽף (šō·lêp̄) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8025.htm">Strong's 8025: </a> To pull out, up, off with swords. חָֽרֶב׃ (ḥā·reḇ) Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2719.htm">Strong's 2719: </a> Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/20-2.htm">Judges 20:2 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/judges/20-2.htm">Judges 20:2 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/judges/20-2.htm">Judges 20:2 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/judges/20-2.htm">Judges 20:2 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/judges/20-2.htm">Judges 20:2 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/20-2.htm">Judges 20:2 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/20-2.htm">Judges 20:2 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/20-2.htm">Judges 20:2 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/judges/20-2.htm">Judges 20:2 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/judges/20-2.htm">Judges 20:2 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/judges/20-2.htm">OT History: Judges 20:2 The chiefs of all the people even (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/20-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 20:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 20:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/20-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 20:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 20:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>