Judges 20:10 meaning

In the midst of the tumultuous period of the Judges, Israel faced a grave crisis stemming from the heinous acts committed in Gibeah. This chapter illustrates the consequences of collective sin and the lengths to which the Israelites would go to address wickedness among them. As they gathered to confront this atrocity, their unity was remarkable; however, it soon turned to a punishing civil conflict. The Israelites sought to execute justice but failed to recognize the weight of their own actions and the spirit in which they fought. This battle against their own kin, the Benjamites, resulted in devastating losses and reflects how their misguided justice led to a tragedy far greater than the original crime.

The verse indicates their strategy to gather forces indicated a lack of divine guidance, epitomizing a severe detachment from the moral law God had provided. The Israelites must learn that human attempts at justice can lead to destruction when lacking genuine humility and adherence to God’s command, urging us to seek divine wisdom before pursuing our own plans. Ultimately, their hubris resulted in immense grief and loss as they faced the consequences of failing to seek God's guidance sincerely: Judges 20:10.