Chapter 20

1
Then all Judg 20:2, Judg 20:8, Judg 20:11, Judg 21:5; Deut 13:12-18; Josh 22:12

as one man 1Sam 11:7-8; 2Sam 19:14; Ezra 3:1; Neh 8:1

from Dan Judg 18:29; 1Sam 3:20; 2Sam 3:10, 2Sam 24:2; 1Chr 21:2; 2Chr 30:5

with the Num 32:1, Num 32:40; Josh 17:1; 2Sam 2:9

unto the Judg 20:18, Judg 20:26, Judg 11:11

in Mizpeh Judg 10:17, Judg 11:11; Josh 15:38, Josh 18:26; 1Sam 7:5-6, 1Sam 10:17; 2Kgs 25:23; It does not appear that the Israelites on this occasion, were summoned by the authority of any one common head, but they came together by the consent and agreement, as it were, of one common heart, fired with a holy zeal for the honour of God and Israel. The place of their meeting was Mizpeh; they gathered together unto the Lord there; for Mizpeh was so very near to Shiloh, that their encampment might very well be supposed to reach from Mizpeh to Shiloh. Shiloh was a small town, and therefore, when there was a general meeting of the people to present themselves before God, they chose Mizpeh for their head quarters, which was the next adjoining city of note; perhaps, because they were not willing to give that trouble to Shiloh, which so great an assembly would occasion; it being the residence of the priests that attended the tabernacle.


2
drew sword Judg 20:15, Judg 20:17, Judg 8:10; 2Sam 24:9; 2Kgs 3:26


3
the children of Benjamin Prov 22:3; Matt 5:25; Luke 12:58-59, Luke 14:31-32

how was Judg 19:22-27


4
the Levite Heb. the man the Levite

I came Judg 19:15-28


5
And the men Judg 19:22

beset Gen 19:4-8

and my concubine Judg 19:25-26

forced Heb. humbled, Deut 22:24; Ezek 22:10-11


6
cut her Judg 19:29

folly in Israel Judg 20:10, Judg 19:23; Gen 34:7; Josh 7:15; 2Sam 13:12-13


7
ye are all Exod 19:5-6; Deut 4:6, Deut 14:1-2; 1Cor 5:1, 1Cor 5:6, 1Cor 5:10-12

give here Judg 19:30; Josh 9:14; Prov 20:18, Prov 24:6; Jas 1:5


8
as one man Judg 20:1, Judg 20:11

We will not Judg 21:1, Judg 21:5; Prov 21:3; Eccl 9:10


9
by lot against it Josh 14:2; 1Sam 14:41-42; 1Chr 24:5; Neh 11:1; Prov 16:33; Jonah 1:7; Acts 1:26


10
ten thousand or, myriad, Gen 24:60


12
sent men Deut 13:14, Deut 20:10; Josh 22:13-16; Matt 18:15-18; Rom 12:18


13
deliver 2Sam 20:21-22

children of Belial Judg 19:22; Deut 13:13; 1Sam 30:22; 2Sam 20:1, 2Sam 23:6; 1Kgs 21:13; 2Chr 13:7

put away Deut 17:7, Deut 17:12, Deut 19:19, Deut 21:21, Deut 22:21, Deut 22:24, Deut 24:7; Eccl 11:10

would not 1Sam 2:25; 2Chr 25:16, 2Chr 25:20; Prov 29:1; Hos 9:9, Hos 10:9; Rom 1:32; Rev 18:4-5; The conduct of the Israelites was very equitable in this demand; but perhaps the rulers or elders of Gibeah ought previously to have been applied to, to deliver up the criminals to justice. However, the refusal of the Benjamites, and their protection of those who had committed this horrible wickedness, because they were of their own tribe, prove them to have been deeply corrupted, and (all their advantages considered) as ripe for divine vengeance as the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah had been. Confiding in their own valour and military skill, they seen to have first prepared for battle in this unequal contest with such superior numbers.


14
Num 20:20, Num 21:23; 2Chr 13:13; Job 15:25-26


15
twenty Judg 20:25, Judg 20:35, Judg 20:46-47; Num 26:41


16
lefthanded Itter yad yemeeno, "obstructed in his right hand;" so the Chaldee Targum, gemid beedaih deyammeena, contracted or impeded in his right hand." Lev. Clerc observes, that the 700 men left-handed seem therefore to have been made slingers, because they could not use the right hand, which is employed in managing heavier arms; and they could discharge the stones from the sling in a direction against which their opponents were not upon their guard, and thus do the greater execution. Judg 3:15; 1Chr 12:2

sling stones The sling was a very ancient warlike instrument; and, in the hands of those who were skilled in the use of it, produced astonishing effects. The inhabitants of the islands of Baleares, now Majorca and Minorca, were the most celebrated slingers of antiquity. They did not permit their children to break their fast, till they had struck down the bread they had to eat from the top of a pole, or some distant eminence. Vegetius tells us, that slingers could in general hit the mark at 600 feet distance. 1Sam 17:40, 1Sam 17:49-50, 1Sam 25:29; 2Chr 26:14


17
four hundred Judg 20:2; Num 1:46, Num 26:51; 1Sam 11:8, 1Sam 15:4; 1Chr 21:5; 2Chr 17:14-18


18
house of Judg 18:31, Judg 19:18; Josh 18:1; Joel 1:14

asked Judg 20:7, Judg 20:23, Judg 20:26-27, Judg 1:1; Num 27:5, Num 27:21; Josh 9:14

Judah Judg 1:1-2; Gen 49:8-10


19
rose up Josh 3:1, Josh 6:12, Josh 7:16


21
the children Gen 49:27; Hos 10:9

destroyed Deut 23:9; 2Chr 28:10; Ps 33:16, Ps 73:18-19, Ps 77:19; Eccl 9:1-3; Jer 12:1


22
encouraged Judg 20:15, Judg 20:17; 1Sam 30:6; 2Sam 11:25; Ps 64:5


23
wept Judg 20:26-27; Ps 78:34-36; Hos 5:15

And the It seems most evident that the Israelites did not seek the protection of God. When they "went to the house of God," (Judg 20:18), it was not to enquire concerning the expediency of the war, nor of its success, but which of the tribes should begin the attack, and here the question is, "Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?" Having so much right on their side, they had no doubt of the justice of their cause, and the propriety of their conduct; and having such a superiority of numbers, they had no doubt of success. But God humbled them, and delivered them into the hands of their enemies; and shewed them that the race was not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.


25
destroyed Judg 20:21; Gen 18:25; Job 9:12-13; Ps 97:2; Rom 2:5, Rom 3:5, Rom 11:33


26
all the children Judg 20:18, Judg 20:23

wept 1Sam 7:6; 2Chr 20:3; Ezra 8:21, Ezra 9:4-5; Joel 1:14, Joel 2:12-18; Jonah 3:5-10


27
inquired Judg 20:18, Judg 20:23; Num 27:21

the ark Josh 18:1; 1Sam 4:3-4; Ps 78:60-61; Jer 7:12; The loss of two battles at length brought this stiff-necked people to enquire of the Lord; for all the company at this time met at Shiloh, and kept a day of fasting and prayer with great earnestness and solemnity. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear." Isa 59:1


28
Phinehas It is evident, from this mention of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, that these transactions must have taken place not long after the death of Joshua. Num 25:7-13; Josh 22:13, Josh 22:30-32, Josh 24:33

stood Deut 10:8, Deut 18:5

Shall I yet Josh 7:7; 1Sam 14:37, 1Sam 23:4-12, 1Sam 30:8; 2Sam 5:19-24, 2Sam 6:3, 2Sam 6:7-12; Prov 3:5-6; Jer 10:23

Go up Judg 1:2, Judg 7:9; 2Chr 20:17


29
Israel Though God had promised them success, they knew they could expect it only by the use of proper means. Hence they used all prudent precaution, and employed all their military skill.

liers Judg 20:34; Josh 8:4; 2Sam 5:23


31
drawn Josh 8:14-16

smite of the people, and kill, as at Heb. smite of the people wounded as at, etc

the house of God or, Beth-el, Gibeah. Judg 19:13-14; Isa 10:29

thirty Josh 7:5


32
Let us flee This was done, not only because they had placed an ambuscade behind Gibeah, which was to enter and burn the city as soon as the Benjamites left it; but it would seem, that the slingers, by being within the city and its fortifications, had great advantage over the Israelites by their slings, when they could not come among them with their swords, unless they got them in the plain country. Josh 8:15-16


33
rose up Josh 8:18-22

put themselves There appear to have been three divisions of the Israelitish army. One at Baal-tamar (which was situated, says Eusebius, near Gibeah); a second behind the city in ambush; and a third, who skirmished with the Benjamites before Gibeah.


34
ten thousand Judg 20:29

knew not Josh 8:14; Job 21:13; Prov 4:19, Prov 29:6; Eccl 8:11-12, Eccl 9:12; Isa 3:10-11; Isa 47:11; Matt 24:44; Luke 21:34, Luke 21:34; 1Thess 5:3


35
twenty Judg 20:15, Judg 20:44-46; Job 20:5; Though the numbers of the Israelites were immensely superior to those of Benjamin, though the stratagem was well laid and ingeniously executed, and the battle bravely fought, yet the inspired historian ascribes the victory to the hand of the Lord, as entirely as if he had smitten the Benjamites by a miracle.


36
for the men Josh 8:15-29


37
the liers in wait hasted Josh 8:19

drew themselves along or, made a long sound with the trumpets, Exod 19:13; Josh 6:5


38
Now there From this verse to the end of the chapter, we have the details of the same operations which are mentioned, in a general way, in the preceding verses of this chapter.

sign or, time, Gen 17:21; 2Kgs 4:16 *marg.

and Heb. with

flame Heb. elevation


39
And when Judg 20:31

smite and kill Heb. smite the wounded


40
a pillar Gen 19:28; Song 3:6; Joel 2:30; Rev 19:3

looked Josh 8:20

flame Heb. whole consumption


41
were amazed Exod 15:9-10; Isa 13:8-9, Isa 33:14; Luke 17:27-28, Luke 21:26; 1Thess 5:3; 2Pet 2:12; Rev 6:15-17, Rev 18:8-10

was come upon them Heb. touched them


42
the battle Lam 1:3; Hos 9:9, Hos 10:9


43
enclosed Josh 8:20-22

with ease or, from Menuchah, etc

over against Heb. unto over against


45
Rimmon Josh 15:32; 1Chr 6:77; Zech 14:10


46
twenty Judg 20:15, Judg 20:35


47
six hundred Judg 21:13; Ps 103:9-10; Isa 1:9; Jer 14:7; Lam 3:32; Hab 3:2, rock of Rimmon, The rock Rimmon was doubtless a strong place; but it is uncertain where situated. It is probable however, that it was near, and took its name from, the village of Remmon, mentioned by Eusebius, fifteen miles north from Jerusalem. It appears that rocks are still resorted to in the East, as places of security; and some of them are even capable of sustaining a siege. Deut. Lam. Roque says, that "The Grand Seignior, wishing to seize the person of the emir (Fakr-eddin, prince of the Druses), gave orders to the pacha to take him prisoner. He accordingly came in search of him, with a new army, in the district of Chouf, which is part of mount Lebanon, wherein is the village of Gesin, and close to it, the rock which served for a retreat to the emir. It is named in Arabic, Magara Gesin, i.e., the cavern of Gessin, by which name it is famous. The pacha pressed the emir so closely, that this unfortunate prince was obliged to shut himself up in the cleft of a great rock, with a small number of his officers. The pacha besieged him there several months; and was going to blow up the rock by a mine, when the emir capitulated."


48
smote them Deut 13:15-17; 2Chr 25:13, 2Chr 28:6-9; Prov 18:19

came to hand Heb. was found

they came to Heb. were found


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