_A.M. 2598. B.C. 1406._ The Levite's cause heard in a general convention of the tribes, Judges 20:1. They resolve to avenge his quarrel, Judges 20:8. The Benjamites assemble in defence of the criminals, Judges 20:12. The defeat of Israel in the first two battles, Judges 20:18. They humble themselve... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the children of Israel went out_ Namely, the principal persons out of their respective cities, who were appointed to represent the rest. _As one man_ That is, with one consent. _Dan_, &c. Dan was the northern border of the land, near Lebanon; and Beer-sheba the southern border. _Gilead_ Beyond... [ Continue Reading ]
_Four hundred thousand_ The number is here set down, to show their zeal and forwardness in punishing such a villany; the strange blindness of the Benjamites, that durst oppose so great and united a body; and that the success of battles depends not upon great numbers, seeing this great host was twice... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Benjamin heard_ Like persons unconcerned and resolved, they neither went nor sent thither: partly through their own pride and stubbornness; partly because, as they were loath to give up any of their brethren to justice, so they presumed the other tribes would never proceed to war ag... [ Continue Reading ]
_Slain me_ Except I would either submit to their unnatural lust, which I was resolved to withstand even unto death, or deliver up my concubine to them, which I was forced to do. _Lewdness and folly_ That is, a lewd folly; most ignominious and impudent wickedness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye are_ The sons of that holy man, who, for one filthy action, left an eternal brand upon one of his own sons: a people in covenant with the holy God, whose honour you are obliged to vindicate, and who hath expressly commanded you to punish all such notorious enormities. _We will not any of us go t... [ Continue Reading ]
_We will go up by lot against it_ They probably cast lots who should go, and who should stay at home to provide the necessary supplies. _According to all the folly that they have wrought_ That we may punish them as such wickedness deserves. _In Israel_ This is added as an aggravation, that they shou... [ Continue Reading ]
_The tribes of Israel sent men_, &c. Before they marched forward they sent an embassy to the Benjamites, to complain of the wickedness that had been committed, and the injury that had been done by some of their tribe, and to demand that the offenders might be delivered up to justice. This was a wise... [ Continue Reading ]
_That we may put away evil from Israel_ Both the guilt and punishment wherein all Israel will be involved if they do not punish it. _The children of Benjamin would not hearken_ From the pride of their hearts, which made them scorn to submit to their brethren; from a conceit of their own valour; and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Twenty and six thousand men_ “How does this agree with the following numbers; for all that were slain of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand and one hundred men, (Judges 20:35,) and there were only six hundred that survived, (Judges 20:47,) which make only twenty-five thousand and seven hundred?” We... [ Continue Reading ]
_Could sling stones at a hair's breadth, and not miss_ A hyperbolical expression, signifying that they could do this with great exactness. This extraordinary skill in their arms (for it is likely they handled other weapons with the like dexterity) and their natural courage, imboldened the Benjamites... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men of Israel were four hundred thousand_ That is, those that were here present, for it is probable they had a far greater number of men, being six hundred thousand before their entrance into Canaan.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Israel arose_ Some sent in the name of all; _and went up to the house of God_ To Shiloh, which was not far from Mizpeh; _and asked counsel of God_ By Urim and Thummim, as they did Judges 1:1. The Targum has it, _They asked counsel by the word of the Lord. Which of us shall go up fir... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Israel encamped against Gibeah_ It seems from these words that Judah only led the van, as we now speak, and stood in the front of the battle, to make the first assault; but that all the rest went up with them. _Israel went out to battle against Benjamin_ When the Benjamites heard th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah_ Those forces which were left in Gibeah for its defence issued out upon the Israelites in their rear, while the other Benjamites fought against them in front. _And destroyed that day twenty and two thousand_ Since they were engaged in so good a caus... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men of Israel encouraged_ Hebrew, _strengthened themselves_, supporting themselves with the consciousness of the justice of their cause, and putting themselves in better order for defending themselves, and annoying their enemies. _The children of Israel wept_ Not so much for their sins, as for... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the people went up_ Not only all the warriors, but other people. _And wept, and sat before the Lord_ Sensible of their not having been before truly humbled for their sins, which they seem now to discover to have been the cause of their ill success. _And fasted that day until even_ That they mig... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Israel inquired of the Lord_ They had inquired of the Lord before, but not as they ought to have done. For, confiding in the justice of their cause, and their vast forces, they seem to have made but slight and languid addresses to God before they undertook the war.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Phinehas the son of Eleazar_ This is added to give us light respecting the time of this history, and to show, that this war did not take place in the order in which it is here recorded, after the death of Samson, but long before; probably not long after the death of Joshua. _Stood before it_ Namely... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel set liers in wait_ Though they were assured of the success, by a particular promise, yet they did not neglect the use of means; as well knowing that the certainty of God's promises doth not excuse, but rather require, man's diligent use of all fit means for the accomplishment of them. _The c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ten thousand chosen men_ These seem to have been a detachment from the main body, which was at Baal-tamar, and marched to attack Gibeah on one side, while the liers in wait assaulted it on the other, and while the great body of the army laboured to intercept the Benjamites, who, having pursued the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten_ Namely, when they saw the flame in Gibeah, as mentioned Judges 20:40. But after these words, in the following part of the verse, begins a relation of the whole day's action, the particulars of which are related in the following verses. _The liers... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Benjamites looked behind them_ It is likely the Israelites shouted when they turned about to fall upon the Benjamites, which made them look back to see what unexpected supplies they had received. Then they saw their city on fire, which, with the sudden turning of the Israelites from flight to a... [ Continue Reading ]
_There fell eighteen thousand_ Namely, in the field of battle. _They gleaned of them five thousand_ A metaphor from those who gather grapes or corn so cleanly and fully that they leave no relics for those who come after them. The Benjamites could not flee in a body, but scattered up and down the hig... [ Continue Reading ]
_Twenty and five thousand_ Besides the odd hundred expressed Judges 20:35; but here only the great number is mentioned, the less being omitted, as inconsiderable. Here are also a thousand more omitted, because he speaks only of them who fell _in that_ third _day_ of battle.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men of Israel turned again_, &c. Left their pursuit of the Benjamites in the wilderness, and turned toward the country of Benjamin. Those that came to Gibeah and into the field, whom the Israelites had already destroyed, were men that drew the sword, that is, soldiers. But there were a great ma... [ Continue Reading ]