King James Bible

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Judges

20

:

21

And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
And the children afflicted Noun H1121 בְנֵֽי־ ve·nei-
of Benjamin Benjamin Noun H1144 בִנְיָמִ֖ן vin·ya·min
came forth after Verb H3318 וַיֵּצְא֥וּ vai·ye·tze·'u
out of Gibeah Gibeah Noun H1390 הַגִּבְעָ֑ה hag·giv·'ah;
Analysis:
Read more about: Gibeah
and destroyed down batter Verb H7843 וַיַּשְׁחִ֨יתוּ vai·yash·chi·tu
to the ground common Noun H776 אָֽרְצָה׃ a·re·tzah.
that day age Noun H3117 בַּיֹּ֣ום bai·yo·vm
and two both Noun H8147 שְׁנַ֨יִם she·na·yim
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

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men great Noun H376 אִ֖ישׁ ish
of the Israelites Israel Noun H3478 בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל ve·yis·ra·'el
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel

Locations

Gibeah

GIBEAHgib'-e-a (gibh`ah, "hill"): The Hebrew word denotes generally an eminence or hill, in distinction from har, which is used for mountain, or mountain range. It occurs, however, in two instances, as a place-name. Under GEBA (which see) we have seen that Geba, Gibeah, and Gibeon are liable to be confused. This arises from their resemblance in form and mean... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
King James Bible And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
Hebrew Greek English And Then the children sons of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, Gibeah and destroyed down felled to the ground of the Israelites on that day twenty and two thousand men.22,000 men of Israel.
New American Standard Bible 1995 And Then the children sons of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, Gibeah and destroyed down felled to the ground of the Israelites on that day twenty and two thousand men.22,000 men of Israel.