Judges 20:9
“But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot;”
What does Judges 20:9 mean?
The Israelite tribes had just heard about a terrible crime committed in the town of Gibeah, and they were determined to respond together. This verse captures their commitment to hold Gibeah accountable: they would draw lots (cast lots) to determine which tribes would lead the attack, making sure the burden and responsibility would be shared fairly across all of Israel rather than falling on just one group. This moment shows a community taking collective action against serious wrongdoing, though it's worth noting that this story ultimately leads to devastating consequences that the narrator seems to view with sadness rather than celebration. It's a reminder that even when we're right to address injustice, how we go about it matters deeply.