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Judges 20:1-17 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Then all the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went out, H3318 and the congregation H5712 was gathered together H6950 as one H259 man, H376 from Dan H1835 even to Beersheba, H884 with the land H776 of Gilead, H1568 unto the LORD H3068 in Mizpeh. H4709

2 And the chief H6438 of all the people, H5971 even of all the tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 presented H3320 themselves in the assembly H6951 of the people H5971 of God, H430 four H702 hundred H3967 thousand H505 footmen H376 H7273 that drew H8025 sword. H2719

3 (Now the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 heard H8085 that the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were gone up H5927 to Mizpeh.) H4709 Then said H559 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 Tell H1696 us, how was H1961 this wickedness? H7451

4 And the Levite, H3881 H376 the husband H376 of the woman H802 that was slain, H7523 answered H6030 and said, H559 I came H935 into Gibeah H1390 that belongeth to Benjamin, H1144 I and my concubine, H6370 to lodge. H3885

5 And the men H1167 of Gibeah H1390 rose H6965 against me, and beset H5437 the house H1004 round about H5437 upon me by night, H3915 and thought H1819 to have slain H2026 me: and my concubine H6370 have they forced, H6031 that she is dead. H4191

6 And I took H270 my concubine, H6370 and cut her in pieces, H5408 and sent H7971 her throughout all the country H7704 of the inheritance H5159 of Israel: H3478 for they have committed H6213 lewdness H2154 and folly H5039 in Israel. H3478

7 Behold, ye are all children H1121 of Israel; H3478 give H3051 here H1988 your advice H1697 and counsel. H6098

8 And all the people H5971 arose H6965 as one H259 man, H376 saying, H559 We will not any H376 of us go H3212 to his tent, H168 neither will we any H376 of us turn H5493 into his house. H1004

9 But now this shall be the thing H1697 which we will do H6213 to Gibeah; H1390 we will go up by lot H1486 against it;

10 And we will take H3947 ten H6235 men H582 of an hundred H3967 throughout all the tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 and an hundred H3967 of a thousand, H505 and a thousand H505 out of ten thousand, H7233 to fetch H3947 victual H6720 for the people, H5971 that they may do, H6213 when they come H935 to Gibeah H1387 of Benjamin, H1144 according to all the folly H5039 that they have wrought H6213 in Israel. H3478

11 So all the men H376 of Israel H3478 were gathered H622 against the city, H5892 knit together H2270 as one H259 man. H376

12 And the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 men H582 through all the tribe H7626 of Benjamin, H1144 saying, H559 What wickedness H7451 is this that is done H1961 among you?

13 Now therefore deliver H5414 us the men, H582 the children H1121 of Belial, H1100 which are in Gibeah, H1390 that we may put them to death, H4191 and put away H1197 evil H7451 from Israel. H3478 But the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 would H14 not hearken H8085 to the voice H6963 of their brethren H251 the children H1121 of Israel: H3478

14 But the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 gathered themselves together H622 out of the cities H5892 unto Gibeah, H1390 to go out H3318 to battle H4421 against the children H1121 of Israel. H3478

15 And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 were numbered H6485 at that time H3117 out of the cities H5892 twenty H6242 and six H8337 thousand H505 men H376 that drew H8025 sword, H2719 beside the inhabitants H3427 of Gibeah, H1390 which were numbered H6485 seven H7651 hundred H3967 chosen H977 men. H376

16 Among all this people H5971 there were seven H7651 hundred H3967 chosen H977 men H376 lefthanded; H334 H3027 H3225 every one could sling H7049 stones H68 at an hair H8185 breadth, and not miss. H2398

17 And the men H376 of Israel, H3478 beside Benjamin, H1144 were numbered H6485 four H702 hundred H3967 thousand H505 men H376 that drew H8025 sword: H2719 all these were men H376 of war. H4421

Commentary on Judges 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 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.