Judges 20

Jud 20:1-7.

THE

LEVITE, IN A

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY,

DECLARES

HIS

WRONG.

1, 2. all . . . the congregation was gathered as one man--In

consequence of the immense sensation the horrid tragedy of Gibeah had

produced, a national assembly was convened, at which "the chief of all

the people" from all parts of the land, including the eastern tribes,

appeared as delegates.

Mizpeh--the place of convention (for there were other Mizpehs),

was in a town situated on the confines of Judah and Benjamin

(Jos 15:38; 18:26).

Assemblies were frequently held there afterwards

(1Sa 7:11; 10:17);

and it was but a short distance from Shiloh. The phrase, "unto the

Lord," may be taken in its usual sense, as denoting consultation of the

oracle. This circumstance, together with the convention being called

"the assembly of the people of God," seems to indicate, that amid the

excited passions of the nation, those present felt the profound gravity

of the occasion and adopted the best means of maintaining a becoming

deportment.

3. Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel

were gone up to Mizpeh--Some suppose that Benjamin had been passed

over, the crime having been perpetrated within the territory of that

tribe

[Jud 19:16];

and that, as the concubine's corpse had been divided into twelve pieces

[Jud 19:29]

--two had been sent to Manasseh, one respectively to the western and

eastern divisions. It is more probable that Benjamin had received a

formal summons like the other tribes, but chose to treat it with

indifference, or haughty disdain.

4-7. the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and

said--The injured husband gave a brief and unvarnished recital of the

tragic outrage, from which it appears that force was used, which he

could not resist. His testimony was doubtless corroborated by those of

his servant and the old Ephraimite. There was no need of strong or

highly colored description to work upon the feelings of the audience.

The facts spoke for themselves and produced one common sentiment of

detestation and vengeance.

Jud 20:8-17.

THEIR

DECREE.

8-13. all the people arose as one man--The extraordinary unanimity

that prevailed shows, that notwithstanding great disorders had broken

out in many parts, the people were sound at the core; and remembering

their national covenant with God, they now felt the necessity of wiping

out so foul a stain on their character as a people. It was resolved

that the inhabitants of Gibeah should be subjected to condign

punishment. But the resolutions were conditional. For as the common

law of nature and nations requires that an inquiry should be made and

satisfaction demanded, before committing an act of hostility or

vengeance, messengers were despatched through the whole territory of

Benjamin, demanding the immediate surrender or execution of the

delinquents. The request was just and reasonable; and by refusing it

the Benjamites virtually made themselves a party in the quarrel. It

must not be supposed that the people of this tribe were insensible or

indifferent to the atrocious character of the crime that had been

committed on their soil. But their patriotism or their pride was

offended by the hostile demonstration of the other tribes. The passions

were inflamed on both sides; but certainly the Benjamites incurred an

awful responsibility by the attitude of resistance they assumed.

14-17. the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the

cities unto Gibeah--Allowing their valor to be ever so great, nothing

but blind passion and unbending obstinacy could have impelled them to

take the field against their brethren with such a disparity of numbers.

16. left-handed; every one could sling stones at an hair-breadth, and

not miss--The sling was one of the earliest weapons used in war. The

Hebrew sling was probably similar to that of the Egyptian, consisting

of a leather thong, broad in the middle, with a loop at one end, by

which it was firmly held with the hand; the other end terminated in a

lash, which was let slip when the stone was thrown. Those skilled in

the use of it, as the Benjamites were, could hit the mark with unerring

certainty. A good sling could carry its full force to the distance of

two hundred yards.

Jud 20:18-28.

THE

ISRAELITES

LOSE

FORTY

THOUSAND.

18-28. the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of

God--This consultation at Shiloh was right. But they ought to have

done it at the commencement of their proceedings. Instead of this, all

their plans were formed, and never doubting, it would seem, that the

war was just and inevitable, the only subject of their inquiry related

to the precedency of the tribes--a point which it is likely was

discussed in the assembly. Had they asked counsel of God sooner, their

expedition would have been conducted on a different principle--most

probably by reducing the number of fighting men, as in the case of

Gideon's army. As it was, the vast number of volunteers formed an

excessive and unwieldy force, unfit for strenuous and united action

against a small, compact, and well-directed army. A panic ensued, and

the confederate tribes, in two successive engagements, sustained great

losses. These repeated disasters (notwithstanding their attack on

Benjamin had been divinely authorized) overwhelmed them with shame and

sorrow. Led to reflection, they became sensible of their guilt in not

repressing their national idolatries, as well as in too proudly relying

on their superior numbers and the precipitate rashness of this

expedition. Having humbled themselves by prayer and fasting, as well as

observed the appointed method of expiating their sins, they were

assured of acceptance as well as of victory. The presence and services

of Phinehas on this occasion help us to ascertain the chronology thus

far, that the date of the occurrence must be fixed shortly after the

death of Joshua.

Jud 20:29-48.

THEY

DESTROY

ALL THE

BENJAMITES,

EXCEPT

SIX

HUNDRED.

29-48. And Israel set liers-in-wait round about Gibeah--A plan was

formed of taking that city by stratagem, similar to that employed in

the capture of Ai

[Jos 8:9].

33. Baal-tamar--a palm-grove, where Baal was worshipped. The main

army of the confederate tribes was drawn up there.

out of the meadows of Gibeah--Hebrew, "the caves of

Gibeah"; a hill in which the ambuscades lay hid.

34. there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men--This was a

third division, different both from the ambuscade and the army, who

were fighting at Baal-tamar. The general account stated in

Jud 20:35

is followed by a detailed narrative of the battle, which is continued

to the end of the chapter.

45. they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of

Rimmon--Many of the fugitives found refuge in the caves of this

rocky mountain, which is situated to the northeast of Beth-el. Such

places are still sought as secure retreats in times of danger; and

until the method of blowing up rocks by gunpowder became known, a few

men could in such caves sustain a siege for months.

46. all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand

men--On comparing this with

Jud 20:35,

it will be seen that the loss is stated here in round numbers and is

confined only to that of the third day. We must conclude that a

thousand had fallen during the two previous engagements, in order to

make the aggregate amount given

(Jud 20:15).

48. the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and

smote them with the edge of the sword--This frightful vengeance,

extending from Gibeah to the whole territory of Benjamin, was executed

under the impetuous impulse of highly excited passions. But doubtless

the Israelites were only the agents of inflicting the righteous

retributions of God; and the memory of this terrible crisis, which led

almost to the extermination of a whole tribe, was conducive to the

future good of the whole nation.