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Stand at the crossroads and look, ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it. —Jeremiah 6:16 |
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Judges
Messenger: The People of Israel
Focus: The Land of Benjamin
Time Period: 1063 BC
Israelites and Benjamites in battle
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Crisis
In the days of the Judges, Israel was divided into twelve tribes. The tribe of Benjamin was committing such horrible sins that the other tribes were forced to confront their brothers' wickedness. Men were selected from each tribe to go out against the tribe of Benjamin, yet twice they were defeated in battle, losing 30,000 Israelites at the hands of the Benjamites.
Response
Before their third and final battle, Israel gathered in a solemn assembly with fasting and weeping as a demonstration of their dependence on God for His sovereign deliverance.
Outcome
The Lord promised to give the Benjamites into the hands of the Israelites. God led them to set an ambush for the Benjamites and they killed 25,000 soldiers and defeated them.
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| “Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. So the children of Israel inquired of the LORD....” —Judges 20:26–28 |
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