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Saturday, August 23rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Judges 20:3

This verse is not available in the CEV!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Mizpah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Jews, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Benjamin;   Mizpah or Mizpeh;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Mizpah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jabesh (1);   Mizpah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Benjamin;   Marriage;   Mizpah, Mizpeh;   Priests and Levites;   Samson;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Mizpah, Mizpeh ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Gibeah;   Mizpah;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Jephthah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Reign of the Judges;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Mizpah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The Benjaminites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.
Hebrew Names Version
(Now the children of Binyamin heard that the children of Yisra'el had gone up to Mitzpah.) The children of Yisra'el said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?
King James Version
(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?
Lexham English Bible
(The descendants of Benjamin heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites said, "Tell us, how did this evil act occur?"
English Standard Version
(Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this evil happen?"
New Century Version
(The people of Benjamin heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said to the Levite, "Tell us how this evil thing happened."
New English Translation
The Benjaminites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah. Then the Israelites said, "Explain how this wicked thing happened!"
Amplified Bible
(Now the Benjamites [in whose territory the crime was committed] heard that the [other tribes of the] sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, "How did this evil thing happen?"
New American Standard Bible
(Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this wickedness take place?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
(Now the children of Beniamin heard that the children of Israel were gone vp to Mizpeh) Then the children of Israel saide, Howe is this wickednesse committed?
Legacy Standard Bible
En die kinders van Benjamin het gehoor dat die kinders van Israel opgetrek het na Mispa. Toe sê die kinders van Israel: Vertel julle hoe hierdie misdaad gepleeg is.
Complete Jewish Bible
Now the people of Binyamin heard that the people of Isra'el had gone up to Mitzpah. The people of Isra'el said, "Tell us, how was this crime committed?"
Darby Translation
And the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah. And the children of Israel said, Tell [us], how was this wickedness?
Easy-to-Read Version
The people from the tribe of Benjamin heard that the Israelites were meeting together in Mizpah. The Israelites said, "Tell us how this terrible thing happened."
George Lamsa Translation
(Now the Benjamites heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?
Good News Translation
Meanwhile the people of Benjamin heard that all the other Israelites had gathered at Mizpah. The Israelites asked, "Tell us, how was this crime committed?"
Literal Translation
And the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpeh. And the sons of Israel said, Speak up. How did this evil happen?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But the children of BenIamin herde, how that ye children of Israel were gone vp vnto Mispa. And the children of Israel sayde: Tell vs, how happened this euell?
American Standard Version
(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpah.) And the children of Israel said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?
Bible in Basic English
(Now the children of Benjamin had word that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the children of Israel said, Make clear how this evil thing took place.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
(Now the chyldren of Beniamin heard that the chyldren of Israel were gone vp to Mispah) Then sayde the chyldren of Israel: Tell vs howe this wickednes is committed?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpah.--And the children of Israel said: 'Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?'
King James Version (1611)
(Now the children of Beniamin heard that the children of Israel were gone vp to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell vs, how was this wickednesse?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Massepha: and the children of Israel came and said, Tell us, where did this wickedness take place?
English Revised Version
(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpah.) And the children of Israel said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?
Berean Standard Bible
(Now the Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites asked, "Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And it was not `hid fro the sones of Beniamyn, that the sones of Israel hadden stied in to Maspha. And the dekene, hosebonde of the `wijf that was slayn, was axid, `how so greet felonye was doon;
Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Benjamin hear that the sons of Israel have gone up to Mizpeh. And the sons of Israel say, `Speak ye, how hath this evil been?'
Update Bible Version
(Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?
Webster's Bible Translation
(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell [us], how was this wickedness?
World English Bible
(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?
New King James Version
(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the children of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this wicked deed happen?"
New Living Translation
(Word soon reached the land of Benjamin that the other tribes had gone up to Mizpah.) The Israelites then asked how this terrible crime had happened.
New Life Bible
(The people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The people of Israel said, "Tell us. How did this sinful thing happen?"
New Revised Standard
(Now the Benjaminites heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites said, "Tell us, how did this criminal act come about?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah. Then said the sons of Israel, Tell us , In what manner was brought to pass this vileness?
Douay-Rheims Bible
(Nor were the children of Benjamin ignorant that the children of Israel were come up to Maspha.) And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was killed being asked, how so great a wickedness had been committed,
Revised Standard Version
(Now the Benjaminites heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, "Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?"
THE MESSAGE
Meanwhile the Benjaminites got wind that the Israelites were meeting at Mizpah. The People of Israel said, "Now tell us. How did this outrageous evil happen?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
(Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this wickedness take place?"

Contextual Overview

1The Israelites called a meeting of the nation. And since they were God's people, the meeting was held at the place of worship in Mizpah. Men who could serve as soldiers came from everywhere in Israel—from Dan in the north, Beersheba in the south, and Gilead east of the Jordan River. Four hundred thousand of them came to Mizpah, and they each felt the same about what those men from the tribe of Benjamin had done. News about the meeting at Mizpah reached the tribe of Benjamin. As soon as the leaders of the tribes of Israel took their places, the Israelites said, "How could such a horrible thing happen?" 4 The husband of the murdered woman answered: My wife and I went into the town of Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night. 5 Later that night, the men of Gibeah surrounded the house. They wanted to kill me, but instead they raped and killed my wife. 6 It was a terrible thing for Israelites to do! So I cut up her body and sent pieces everywhere in Israel. 7 You are the people of Israel, and you must decide today what to do about the men of Gibeah. 8 The whole army was in agreement, and they said, "None of us will go home. 9We'll send one tenth of the men from each tribe to get food for the army. And we'll ask God who should attack Gibeah, because those men deserve to be punished for committing such a horrible crime in Israel." 11 Everyone agreed that Gibeah had to be punished.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the children of Benjamin: Proverbs 22:3, Matthew 5:25, Luke 12:58, Luke 12:59, Luke 14:31, Luke 14:32

how was: Judges 19:22-27

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 3:15 - Mizpah

Cross-References

Genesis 20:1
Abraham moved to the Southern Desert, where he settled between Kadesh and Shur. Later he went to Gerar, and while there
Genesis 20:7
Her husband is a prophet. Let her go back to him, and his prayers will save you from death. But if you don't return her, you and all your people will die.
Genesis 20:12
Besides, she is my half sister. We have the same father, but different mothers.
Genesis 20:13
When God made us leave my father's home and start wandering, I told her, "If you really love me, you will tell everyone that I am your brother."
Genesis 20:14
Abimelech gave Abraham some sheep, cattle, and slaves. He sent Sarah back
Genesis 20:15
and told Abraham that he could settle anywhere in his country.
Genesis 28:12
In a dream he saw a ladder that reached from earth to heaven, and God's angels were going up and down on it.
Genesis 31:24
But God appeared to Laban in a dream that night and warned, "Don't say a word to Jacob. Don't make a threat or a promise."
Genesis 37:5
One day, Joseph told his brothers what he had dreamed, and they hated him even more.
Genesis 37:9
Joseph later had another dream, and he told his brothers, "Listen to what else I dreamed. The sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowed down to me."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh,.... Having no doubt the same notice the rest of the tribes had; but the thing complained of being done in their tribe, and by some of it, they might be willing to screen the delinquents, or were careless about and indifferent to the case, and secure and easy, as imagining their brethren would never go to war with them about it; or were proud and haughty, and would pay no regard to the summons given them:

then said the children of Israel, tell us, how was this wickedness? proclamation was made in the assembly, that if any person there knew anything of this shocking affair, and horrid iniquity, which was the occasion of their meeting together, that they would rise up and declare what was the cause of it, how it came about, and by whom it was done; or they addressed themselves particularly to the Levite, and his host, and his servant, who might all be upon the spot to bear witness in this case, as it is certain the former of them was, who upon this stood up, and spoke as follows.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 20:3. Tell us, how was this wickedness? — They had heard before, by the messengers he sent with the fragments of his wife's body; but they wish to hear it, in full council, from himself.


 
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