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Judges 20:34
And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evilwas near them.

Joshua 8:4
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city,even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

2 Samuel 5:23
And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up;but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

set up an ambush
The strategy of setting up an ambush indicates a tactical military maneuver. Ambushes were common in ancient warfare, often used to gain an advantage over a stronger or more fortified enemy. This tactic is reminiscent of earlier biblical battles, such as the ambush at Ai inJoshua 8, where God instructed Joshua to use a similar strategy. The use of an ambush here suggests a reliance on strategic planning and possibly divine guidance, as the Israelites sought to rectify the situation with the Benjamites.

around Gibeah
Gibeah was a city in the territory of Benjamin, notorious for the heinous crime committed there, which led to the civil conflict described inJudges 19-20. The geographical location of Gibeah is significant, as it was situated on a hill, providing a strategic advantage in defense. The ambush around Gibeah indicates a comprehensive encirclement, aiming to cut off escape routes and ensure the success of the attack. The focus on Gibeah highlights the severity of the crime committed there and the necessity of addressing it to restore justice and order within Israel.

• “So” links immediately back to the prayer, fasting, and divine guidance sought inJudges 20:26-28. God’s directive (“Go, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hands,” v. 28) drives the action.

• The connective reminds us that biblical narratives unfold logically; God’s answer results in obedient strategy, just as inJoshua 6:2 → 6:3.

• It signals that faith seeks expression in concrete steps, echoingJames 2:17,26.

• The entire covenant community—not merely a tribe—acts together (Judges 20:11). Unity in righteousness contrasts sharply with Benjamin’s earlier refusal to surrender the guilty men (Judges 20:13).

• National solidarity for justice fulfillsDeuteronomy 13:12-18, where collective responsibility is commanded against internal wickedness.

• The verse underscores that God cares about corporate holiness (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).

• “Set up” stresses deliberate, orderly preparation, much like Joshua “set out” the ambush at Ai (Joshua 8:4-8).

• Israel follows a plan revealed by God, proving that strategy is not opposed to faith (Nehemiah 4:9: “we prayed… and posted a guard”).

• Obedience involves action; passive waiting would have contradicted the Lord’s explicit promise inJudges 20:28.

• The ambush is a lawful military tactic already modeled by Joshua (Joshua 8:9-12).

• It balances justice with mercy: a swift, decisive strike limits prolonged bloodshed (Proverbs 21:31;Romans 13:4).

• The method fulfills God’s earlier pattern of using surprise to defeat evil (2 Chronicles 13:13-18).

• Gibeah is the crime scene (Judges 19:22-27); justice must be localized where sin occurred, reflectingNumbers 35:33-34.

• Surrounding the city ensures no escape for perpetrators, paralleling how Israel encircled Jericho (Joshua 6:20-21).

• The focus on Gibeah rather than all Benjamin highlights proportional justice—only the obstinate are targeted (Judges 20:36-37).

Judges 20:29 records Israel’s God-directed, unified, and strategic response to gross immorality. Each word—“So,” “Israel,” “set up,” “an ambush,” “around Gibeah”—marks a step of faithful obedience: acting because God spoke, acting together, acting with planning, acting decisively, and acting precisely where sin had flourished. The verse affirms that righteous zeal can—and should—employ thoughtful strategy under the Lord’s guidance to uphold holiness and protect the covenant community.