Judges 20:17

Arabic 2016 (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)

وَحَشَدَ بَنُو إسْرَائِيلَ، دُونَ بَنِي بَنْيَامِينَ، أرْبَعَ مِئَةِ ألْفِ رَجُلٍ مِنْ حَمَلَةِ السُّيُوفِ. وَهُمْ جَمِيعًا مُحَارِبُونَ مُدَرَّبُونَ.

What Does This Mean?

This verse from Judges describes the Israelite army, excluding the tribe of Benjamin, as consisting of 400,000 men who were ready to fight. It emphasizes the sheer number of warriors prepared for battle.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a big group of friends ready to play a game, but one friend isn't playing. In this case, there were 400,000 friends ready to play a very serious game—fighting in a war. That’s a lot of friends!

Historical Background

The Book of Judges was written around the 5th century BC by various authors. It documents the period of the Judges, the leaders of Israel between the conquest of Canaan and the establishment of the monarchy. The verse reflects a time of internal conflict and warfare.

Living It Out Today

Today, when facing a challenge, it’s important to consider the strength and support of those around you, just as the Israelites considered their forces. However, it also reminds us to seek peaceful solutions before resorting to conflict.

Topics

• war
• numbers
• army
• Israel
• conflict
• leadership

Related Verses

• Deuteronomy 20:1-4
• 2 Samuel 24:9
• 1 Chronicles 21:5
• 1 Samuel 11:8
• Revelation 9:16

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the men of Benjamin not included?

The men of Benjamin were not included because they were opposing the rest of Israel in this conflict, making them enemies rather than allies.

How big was the army of 400,000 men?

An army of 400,000 men was incredibly large for that time period, reflecting the massive scale of the conflict and the resources of the Israelites.

What can we learn about leadership from this verse?

Leadership involves not only counting forces but also making decisions about the use of those forces, whether for peace or war.

How does this verse relate to modern warfare?

In modern warfare, the number of soldiers is still a significant factor, but modern conflicts also heavily rely on technology and intelligence, not just manpower.