Bible Strands
Judges 20:16
Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the final troop count of the Benjamite army as it prepares for battle against the united Israelite forces. This moment occurs immediately after the initial mobilization and before the opening of hostilities at Gibeah.
The words — אִטֵּ֖ר ('i.Ter) literally means left-handed or impeded, identifying the 700 chosen men who could sling a stone at a hair without missing. The text states this capability plainly before noting their tactical role in the conflict.
The thread — Left-handed warriors appear as divinely raised deliverers in Judges 3:15 and as dual-handed archers in 1 Chronicles 12:2. The sling is later highlighted as David’s chosen weapon in 1 Samuel 17:40.
Why it lands — The verse documents a specific military advantage that influences the outcome of a civil war. It requires the reader to acknowledge how specialized skill functions within the narrative of Israel’s internal conflict.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.
Cross-references
- Judges 3:15 And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.
- 1 Chronicles 12:2 they were archers using both the right and left hands to sling stones and shoot arrows; and they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin):
- 1 Samuel 17:40 And David took his staff in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag. And with his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine.
- 1 Samuel 17:49 Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
- 1 Samuel 25:29 And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.
- 2 Chronicles 26:14 Uzziah supplied the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones.