Free group study handout
Judges 20: Group Study Handout
How to use: read Judges 20 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.
Overview
The children of Israel assemble at Mizpah, uniting as one (vv. 1-2). They seek to understand the wickedness that occurred.
Key verse
“The children of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until evening; and they asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?” Yahweh said, “Go up against him.”
Judges 20:23 (WEB)
Outline
- Judges 20:1–4 Israel Assembles at Mizpah
- Judges 20:5–13 The Levite's Account of Crime
- Judges 20:14–21 Conflict Begins with Benjamin
- Judges 20:22–28 Seeking God’s Guidance
- Judges 20:29–39 Ambush Strategy Unfolds
- Judges 20:40–48 Decisive Victory and Devastation
Discussion questions
- In v3, what question do the children of Israel ask about the wickedness?
- What happens to the children of Benjamin in v21 during the battle?
- The actions of the Levite in v6: why does he cut his concubine into pieces?
- The phrase 'None of us will go to his tent' in v8: what does this suggest about Israel's unity?
- When have you felt compelled to take action as a group, as in v8's unity?
Go deeper
Passages that echo Judges 20: Judges 19, Joshua 8, Judges 21.
Before next time: read Judges 21.