1The children of Israel assemble at Mizpeh, before whom the Levite declareth his wrong. 8The resolution of the assembly to punish the Gibeathites. 12The Benjamites, being required to deliver up the offenders, instead of complying gather themselves together against the other tribes. 18By the direction of God Judah goeth up first against them; but the Israelites are repulsed with great loss. 22They renew the fight the second day, and are again defeated with a great slaughter. 26They seek to God with fasting and sacrifices, and are promised success. 29They make use of a stratagem, and destroy all the Benjamites, with all that belonged to them, except six hundred men, who flee to the rock Rimmon.
1THEN 1all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together 2as one man, from 3Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the 4land of Gilead, unto the 5LORD in 6Mizpeh.
1 Excluded the Benjamites. See verses 12, 13, etc.
2 That is, with special unanimity and willingness, not troubled at all; also verses 8, 11; 1 Sam. 11:7; 2 Sam. 19:14; Ezra 3:1; Neh. 8:2, etc.
3 The city Dan was the northern, and Beer-sheba the southern border of Canaan. See 1 Kings 4 on verse 25.
4 That is, the Israelites who lived there in the east, beyond the Jordan, namely, Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. See Numbers 32.
5 To pray unto Him, and besides, to ask counsel at Shiloh.
6 Situated in Benjamin, Joshua 18:26, westward from Shiloh, as the map also shows. A place suitable for a solemn assembly, as being close by, according to the length, situated in the midst of Canaan. See 1 Sam. 7:5, 16; 10:17, etc.; 2 Kings 25:22, etc.; Jer. 40:6, etc.; 41:1, etc. Some are of opinion, that here a special place was appointed for public prayers, and exercise of godliness, as a synagogue, and similar more have been, although the ceremonial worship, of offering sacrifices, etc., were to be done at Shiloh, where were the tabernacle and the ark. Of other places, bearing the same name, see Judges 10 on verse 17.
2And the 7chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew 8sword.
7 Or, out of the corners, that is, from all, even the uttermost quarters. Other, all the heads of the people, meaning, that those are called the corners of the people, by way of similitude, as being the most important and the firmness or strength of the people, as the corners of a house.
8 See Judges 8 on verse 10.
3(Now the children of Benjamin 9heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then 10said the children of Israel, Tell us, 11how was this wickedness?
9 But appeared not at Mizpeh among them.
10 Meaning: to the Levite, whose concubine was abused even to death, and who was here present, as also probably his servant, who was with him at that time.
11 They will not resolve nor attempt anything, without first searching and considering out the matter.
4And the Levite, the 12husband of the woman that was 13slain, 14answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
12 Although the woman was his concubine, yet were they accounted lawful man and wife. See Judges 19 on verse 2.
13 That is, so ill-treated, that she died of it, as is related in the following words.
14 That is, having granted him to speak, he uttered and related the whole business. See Judges 18 on verse 14.
5And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about 15upon me by night, and 16thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.
15 To abuse me abominably.
16 Namely, if I would not have yielded to their abominable wickedness; and I had rather die, then to do such.
6And I took my concubine, and 17cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for 18they have committed 19lewdness and folly in Israel.
17 Into twelve pieces, Judges 19:29.
18 Those of Gibeah.
19 See Gen. 34 on verse 7. Also below verse 10.
7Behold, ye are all 20children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.
20 Whom (as being God’s people in covenant) it befits not at all such horrible wickedness to go unpunished.
8¶And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will 21not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house.
21 Meaning: unless we shall first have acted that which is related in the following words.
9But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up 22by lot against it;
22 To cast lots, who shall give the army victuals, and who shall fight.
10And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the 23people, that they may do, when they come to 24Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.
23 Who shall fight.
24 In the previous verse and so continually in this history that is called Gibeah of Benjamin, namely, to do to the inhabitants of Gibeah, according to their deserts.
11So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, 25knit together as one man.
25 Hebr. united, accompanied, joined together.
12¶And the tribes of Israel sent men through 26all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?
26 Hebr. throughout all the tribes, that is, the thousands into which the tribe of Benjamin, (as others) was divided.
13Now therefore deliver us 27the men, the childrena of 28Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. Butb the children of Benjamin 29would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
27 Who are guilty of this abomination.
a Judges 19:22.
28 As Judges 19:22. See Deut. 13 on verse 13.
b Hosea 9:9; 10:9.
29 Making themselves thus guilty of that horrible act of the inhabitants of Gibeah.
14But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.
15And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities 30twenty and six thousand men that drew 31sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
30 Of this number were slain five and twenty thousand and one hundred, verse 35. The nine hundred were perhaps left to possess the cities, to abide by the baggage, and to provide the army victuals. These, after the fight, were all slain in the cities, verse 48. Six hundred (fewer than those constituted of Gibeah, except the rest) are escaped and remained alive, verse 47.
31 See Judges 8 on verse 10 and below verses 17, 46.
16Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men 32lefthanded;c33every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, 34and not miss.
32 Hebr. locked up on their right hand or whose right hand was locked up. See Judges 3 on verse 15.
c Judges 3:15.
33 Or, every one of these could sling stones, etc.
34 Hebr. and caused not the stone to miss or fail, to go astray, namely, from hitting an hair. Here in the Hebrew text is the word used, which signifies everywhere to sin, cause to sin; because sin is a missing, failing, or straying from the law of God, when anything agrees not therewith, or (as the apostle John says in 1 John 3:4) is unlawfulness or lawlessness. Compare Job 5 on verse 24.
17And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.
18¶And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the 35house of God, and 36asked counsel of God, and said, 37Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
35 Which was at Shiloh, eastward of Mizpeh and not far distant from Gibeah. See Judges 19 on verse 18. Hebr. Beth-el, that is, the house of God. See on verse 26.
36 See Judges 1 on verse 1.
37 Not being troubled about the justness of this war, nor about the victory, which notwithstanding they, (though much stronger then Benjamin) were to desire and expect from God, they only ask counsel concerning the ordering of the battle, wherein they seem not to have agreed so well together. Compare Judges 1:1.
19And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
20And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel 38put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.
38 That is, they put themselves in order to fight; they put themselves in battle array.
21And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and 39destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
39 Hebr. spoiled; also verses 25, 35, 42. The Hebrew word tends to the aggravation of slaying, as if one would say: utterly and totally ruin, destroy. See Ezek. 9:6, 8.
22And the people the men of Israel 40encouraged themselves, and 41set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.
40 That is, they took courage and recruited themselves, notwithstanding this defeat.
41 Hebr. they proceeded or added to order the battle.
23(And the children of Israel went up and wept 42before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall 43I go up 44again to battle against the children of Benjamin 45my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)
42 That is, in the tent of the congregation where was the ark of the covenant (which was a visible token of God’s presence and grace). See verses 26, 27; Lev. 1 on verse 3.
43 Israel; also verse 28.
44 Hebr. shall I add or proceed to draw nigh?
45 It seems that they, in regard of the defeat sustained, doubted whether it was pleasing to God, that they should thus fight against their brethren; without asking counsel concerning the outcome of the battle or victory.
24And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.
25And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and 46destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; 47all these drew the sword.
46 Hebr. spoiled.
47 That is, all these were men of war. See verses 15, 17.
26¶Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the 48house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
48 Hebr. Beth-el; that is, God’s house, as it is rendered by most translators in this history. This is also the name of the famous place Bethel (see Gen. 28:19). And because in the following verse it is said, that the ark of the covenant was there at that time, some gather from this, that it has been at Bethel, and not at Shiloh (nowhere mentioned in this history, but Judges 21:12, 19, 21) because the particle there seems not to agree so well, if there had been no place mentioned before. Yet Bethel was so far distant eastward from Gibeah (as the best maps tell us) that all the people could not easily go thither and come back again in so short a time: but Shiloh was close by Gibeah. The attentive reader will be able to judge hereof. See Judges 19 on verse 18; Judges 21:12.
27And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was 49there in those days,
49 In the house of God at Shiloh; others understand Bethel. See the annotation on the previous verse.
28And 50Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, 51stood before 52it in those days,) saying, Shall I 53yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver 54them into thine hand.
50 See Judges 17 on verse 1.
51 That is, ministered as high priest, see Deut. 10:8; 18:5, etc.
52 Or, before his face, that is, of the Lord, or, before it; namely, the ark of the covenant.
53 Hebr. Shall I (namely Israel) yet or henceforth add or proceed to go forth?
54 Benjamin.
29And Israel set liersd in wait round about Gibeah.
d Joshua 8:4.
30And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.
31And the children of Benjamin went out against 55the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, 56and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the 57house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
55 Israel.
56 Hebr. stabbed, or stabbing or wounded to death or were killed.
57 Or, Bethel.
32And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw 58them from the city unto the highways.
58 Benjamin.
33And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at 59Baal-tamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even 60out of the meadows of 61Gibeah.
59 Situated westward of Gibeah, as the maps show.
60 That is, after the city was bereft, or made bare of the soldiers, who now were drawn away from it. Other, out of the meadows, pastures.
61 That is, Gibeah, as verse 10.
34And there came 62against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but 63they knew not that evil was 64near them.
62 To keep themselves between the city and the soldiery, to the end they might not get into the city again.
63 Those of Benjamin.
64 Or, would overtake them; or, that the evil was approaching them; also verse 41.
35And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel 65destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these 66drew the sword.
65 Hebr. spoiled; as verses 21, 25. How this happened is particularly mentioned in the following words.
66 See verses 17, 46; Judges 8 on verse 10.
36So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.
37And the liers in wait hasted, and 67rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait 68drew themselves along, and smote all the 69city with the 70edge of the sword.
67 Or, assaulted, broke through.
68 Or, drew, namely, the people that were hard by to them, to press through into the city. Compare Judges 4 on verse 6. Other, made a drawing sound, blew with a long breath, drawing, namely, with the trumpet, as Exod. 19:13; Joshua 6:5.
69 That is, all those who were found in the city.
70 Hebr. at the mouth of the sword.
38Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make 71a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.72
71 Hebr. should multiply a lifting up of smoke to cause it to rise up from the city.
72 That then those of Israel should turn about and fall upon the Benjamites, for it would be a sign that the city was taken.
3973And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and 74kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for 75they said, 76Surely 77they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.
73 As fleeing men, to draw those of Benjamin away from the city; as was related above verse 31.
74 Hebr. stabbed; as verse 31.
75 Those of Benjamin.
76 Hebr. being smitten, he is smitten.
77 Namely, Israel.
40But when the 78flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the 79flame of the city ascended up to 80heaven.
78 Whereof verse 38.
79 Hebr. the whole consumption, that is, the fire, whereby the entire city was consumed.
80 That is, into the air.
41And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that 81evil was come upon them.
81 As verse 34.
42Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the 82battle 83overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they 84destroyed in the midst of them.
82 That is, the fighters.
83 That is, nevertheless overtook them, hit them, as verse 45.
84 Hebr. spoiled them in their midst: that is, surrounding them about on all sides, they smote them, as follows.
43Thus they inclosed the 85Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with 86ease over against 87Gibeah toward the sunrising.
85 That is, the men of Benjamin; or Benjamin.
86 Hebr. in or with rest, that is, without much trouble or pains. Some take it for the name of a place, which would be called Menuah, or Menucha.
87 Hence some do gather, that there was yet another Gibeah, situated eastward from Gibeah or Geba, continually mentioned in this history; as the maps also do place both these cities, calling the one Gibeah or Geba, and the other (which is also called Gibeah) Gibeath or Gabaath.
44And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.
45And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of 88Rimmon: and 89they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and 90pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.
88 A city situated upon a rock between Bethel and Gibeah, on the southern borders of Benjamin.
89 Hebr. they gleaned him (Benjamin) in the streets, that is, they smote them here and there by parties, as they are wont to glean the remaining grapes in the vintage, and at last to cut them off that nothing might remain. See Judges 8:2.
90 That is, they pursued them close upon the heels, gave them no breathing time, no rest, or time to escape or flee away.
46So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were 91twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.
91 In this number are, according to the custom of Holy Scripture, left out the hundred (whereof verse 35) because of the roundness of the number. Compare Judges 11 on verse 26.
47But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rocke Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.
e Judges 21:13.
48And the men of Israel turned again upon the 92children of Benjamin, and smote them 93with the edge of the sword, 94as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they 95set on fire all the cities that they came to.
92 Which remained in the cities.
93 Hebr. at the mouth of the sword.
94 Hebr. of the city of wholeness. Compare Psalm 38:3. Other, from the men of the city to the very beasts.
95 Hebr. sent; as Judges 1:8.