Hakim-hakim 20:15-18

20:15 That day the Benjaminites mustered from their cities twenty-six thousand sword-wielding soldiers, besides seven hundred well-trained soldiers from Gibeah. ¹  20:16 Among this army ²  were seven hundred specially-trained left-handed soldiers. ³  Each one could sling a stone and hit even the smallest target. ⁴  20:17 The men of Israel (not counting Benjamin) had mustered four hundred thousand sword-wielding soldiers, every one an experienced warrior. ⁵ 

20:18 The Israelites went up to Bethel ⁶  and asked God, ⁷  “Who should lead the charge against the Benjaminites?” ⁸  The Lord said, “Judah should lead.”

[20:15]  ¹ tn Heb “besides from the ones living in Gibeah they mustered seven hundred choice men.”

[20:16]  ² tn Heb “And from all this people.”

[20:16]  ³ tn Heb “seven hundred choice men, bound/restricted in the right hand.” On the significance of the idiom, “bound/restricted in the right hand,” see the translator’s note on 3:15.

[20:16]  ⁴ tn “at a single hair and not miss.”

[20:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “a man of war.”

[20:18]  ⁶ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[20:18]  ⁷ tn Heb “They arose and went up to Bethel and asked God, and the Israelites said.”

[20:18]  ⁸ tn Heb “Who should go up for us first for battle against the sons of Benjamin?”