The answer is: 600

Jdg 20:29-48

After Israel's brutal and tragic conflicts with the tribe of Benjamin, we find that only 600 Benjamite soldiers were left standing. This devastating fight illustrates the harsh reality of civil war and the tragic consequences of internal strife. The numbers amplify the gravity of the situation—over 25,000 skilled warriors from Benjamin had fallen. With 600 warriors remaining, we’re confronted with a stark scene of survival amid destruction.

Interestingly, this remnant of the Benjamites becomes crucial in subsequent chapters and plays an important role in rebuilding the tribe. The scarce but vital figure may remind us of stories in other cultures about small numbers achieving great resilience. This can echo the tales in the Book of Judges of battles fought against overwhelming odds; think of Gideon's dramatic reduction of soldiers down to just 300 to face the Midianites.

The events described provide not just historical facts but moral underpinnings using loyalty, division, and the burdens of sin within nations. Judges emphasizes a cycle: peace, rebellion, punishment, and restoration.

Later, this 600 also symbolizes God's ability to lead His people from ruin to renewal—many years afterwards Jacob's blessings on Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, lead to fruitful outcomes! The need for unity resonates through generations and invites reflection on reconciliation—a theme as ancient as war and yet as powerful today. The journey from division to unity holds countless lessons for future generations grappling with social fractures.