Judges 20:1

CHAPTER XX

The heads of the eleven tribes come before the Lord in Mizpeh,

and examine the Levite relative to the murder of his wife, who

gives a simple narrative of the whole affair, 1-7.

They unanimously resolve to avenge the wrong, and make provision

for a campaign against the Benjamites, 8-11.

They desire the Benjamites to deliver up the murderers; they

refuse, and prepare for battle, having assembled an army of

twenty-six thousand seven hundred men, 12-16.

The rest of the Israelites amount to four hundred thousand, who,

taking counsel of God, agree to send the tribe of Judah against

the Benjamites, 17, 18.

They attack the Benjamites, and are routed with the loss of

twenty-two thousand men, 19-21.

They renew the battle next day, and are discomfited with the

loss of eighteen thousand men, 22-25.

They weep, fast, and pray, and offer sacrifices; and again

inquire of the Lord, who promises to deliver Benjamin into

their hands, 26-28.

They concert plans, attack the Benjamites, and rout them,

killing twenty-five thousand one hundred men, and destroy the

city of Gibeah, 29-37.

A recapitulation of the different actions in which they were

killed, 38-46.

Six hundred men escape to the rock Rimmon, 47.

The Israelites destroy all the cities of the Benjamites, 48.

NOTES ON CHAP. XX

Verse Judges 20:1. Unto the Lord in Mizpeh.] This city was situated on the confines of Judah and Benjamin, and is sometimes attributed to the one, sometimes to the other. It seems that there was a place here in which the Lord was consulted, as well as at Shiloh; in 1Mac 3:46, we read, In Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime in Israel. These two passages cast light on each other.

Some think that Shiloh is meant, because the ark was there; but the phrase before the Lord may signify no more than meeting in the name of God to consult him, and make prayer and supplication. Wherever God's people are, there is God himself; and it ever was true, that wherever two or three were assembled in his name, he was in the midst of them.