mh_parser/vol_split/7 - Judges/Chapter 20.xml

<div2 id="Jud.xxi" n="xxi" next="Jud.xxii" prev="Jud.xx" progress="21.37%" title="Chapter XX">
<h2 id="Jud.xxi-p0.1">J U D G E S</h2>
<h3 id="Jud.xxi-p0.2">CHAP. XX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Jud.xxi-p1">Into the book of the wars of the Lord the story of
this chapter must be brought, but it looks as sad and uncomfortable
as any article in all that history; for there is nothing in it that
looks in the least bright or pleasant but the pious zeal of Israel
against the wickedness of the men of Gibeah, which made it on their
side a just and holy war; but otherwise the obstinacy of the
Benjamites in protecting their criminals, which was the foundation
of the war, the vast loss which the Israelites sustained in
carrying on the war, and (though the righteous cause was victorious
at last) the issuing of the war in the almost utter extirpation of
the tribe of Benjamin, make it, from first to last, melancholy. And
yet this happened soon after the glorious settlement of Israel in
the land of promise, upon which one would have expected every thing
to be prosperous and serene. In this chapter we have, I. The
Levite's cause heard in a general convention of the tribes,
<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.1-Judg.20.7" parsed="|Judg|20|1|20|7" passage="Jdg 20:1-7">ver. 1-7</scripRef>. II. A unanimous
resolve to avenge his quarrel upon the men of Gibeah, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.8-Judg.20.11" parsed="|Judg|20|8|20|11" passage="Jdg 20:8-11">ver. 8-11</scripRef>. III. The Benjamites
appearing in defence of the criminals, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.12-Judg.20.17" parsed="|Judg|20|12|20|17" passage="Jdg 20:12-17">ver. 12-17</scripRef>. IV. The defeat of Israel in
the first and second day's battle, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.18-Judg.20.25" parsed="|Judg|20|18|20|25" passage="Jdg 20:18-25">ver. 18-25</scripRef>. V. Their humbling themselves
before God upon that occasion, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.26-Judg.20.28" parsed="|Judg|20|26|20|28" passage="Jdg 20:26-28">ver. 26-28</scripRef>. VI. The total rout they gave
the Benjamites in the third engagement, by a stratagem, by which
they were all cut off, except 600 men, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.29-Judg.20.48" parsed="|Judg|20|29|20|48" passage="Jdg 20:29-48">ver. 29-48</scripRef>. And all this the effect of
the indignities done to one poor Levite and his wife; so little do
those that do iniquity consider what will be the end thereof.</p>
<scripCom id="Jud.xxi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20" parsed="|Judg|20|0|0|0" passage="Jud 20" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Jud.xxi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.1-Judg.20.11" parsed="|Judg|20|1|20|11" passage="Jud 20:1-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Judg.20.1-Judg.20.11">
<h4 id="Jud.xxi-p1.9">The Combination Against
Gibeah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p1.10">b. c.</span> 1410.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jud.xxi-p2">1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and
the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to
Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p2.1">Lord</span> in Mizpeh.   2 And the chief of all
the people, <i>even</i> of all the tribes of Israel, presented
themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred
thousand footmen that drew sword.   3 (Now the children of
Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.)
Then said the children of Israel, Tell <i>us,</i> how was this
wickedness?   4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman that
was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that
<i>belongeth</i> to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.  
5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round
about upon me by night, <i>and</i> thought to have slain me: and my
concubine have they forced, that she is dead.   6 And I took
my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all
the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed
lewdness and folly in Israel.   7 Behold, ye <i>are</i> all
children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.   8 And
all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any <i>of
us</i> go to his tent, neither will we any <i>of us</i> turn into
his house.   9 But now this <i>shall be</i> the thing which we
will do to Gibeah; <i>we will go up</i> by lot against it;  
10 And we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes
of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten
thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when
they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that
they have wrought in Israel.   11 So all the men of Israel
were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p3">Here is, I. A general meeting of all the
congregation of Israel to examine the matter concerning the
Levite's concubine, and to consider what was to be done upon it,
<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.1-Judg.20.2" parsed="|Judg|20|1|20|2" passage="Jdg 20:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1, 2</scripRef>. It does
not appear that they 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. 1. The place of their meeting was
<i>Mizpeh;</i> 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 represent 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 resident of the
priests that attended the tabernacle. 2. The persons that met were
all Israel, from Dan (the city very lately so called, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.18.29" parsed="|Judg|18|29|0|0" passage="Jdg 18:29"><i>ch.</i> xviii. 29</scripRef>) in the north
to Beersheba in the south, with the land of Gilead (that is, the
tribes on the other side Jordan), all <i>as one man,</i> so
unanimous were they in their concern for the public good. Here was
an assembly of the people of God, not a convocation of the Levites
and priests, though a Levite was the person principally concerned
in the cause, but an assembly of the people, to whom the Levite
referred himself with an <i>Appello populum—I appeal to the
people.</i> The <i>people of God were</i> 400,000 <i>footmen that
drew the sword,</i> that is, were armed and disciplined, and fit
for service, and some of them perhaps such as had <i>known the wars
of Canaan,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.3.1" parsed="|Judg|3|1|0|0" passage="Jdg 3:1"><i>ch.</i> iii.
1</scripRef>. In this assembly of all Israel, the chief (or
corners) of the people (for rulers are the corner-stones of the
people, that keep all together) presented themselves as the
representatives of the rest. They rendered themselves at their
respective posts, at the head of the thousands and hundreds, the
fifties and tens, over which they presided; for so much order and
government, we may suppose, at least, they had among them, though
they had no general or commander-in-chief. So that here was, (1.) A
general congress of the states for counsel. The chief of the people
presented themselves, to lead and direct in this affair. (2.) A
general rendezvous of the militia for action, all that drew sword
and were men of war (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.17" parsed="|Judg|20|17|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>), not hirelings nor pressed men, but the best
freeholders, that went at their own charge. Israel were above
600,000 when they came into Canaan, and we have reason to think
they were at this time much increased, rather than diminished; but
then all between twenty and sixty were military men, now we may
suppose more than the one half exempted from bearing arms to
cultivate the land; so that these were as the trained bands. The
militia of the two tribes and a half were 40,000 (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Josh.4.13" parsed="|Josh|4|13|0|0" passage="Jos 4:13">Josh. iv. 13</scripRef>), but the tribes were
many more.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p4">II. Notice given to the tribe of Benjamin
of this meeting (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.3" parsed="|Judg|20|3|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>): <i>They heard that the children of Israel had gone
up to Mizpeh.</i> Probably they had a legal summons sent them to
appear with their brethren, that the cause might be fairly debated,
before any resolutions were taken up upon it, and so the mischiefs
that followed would have been happily prevented; but the notice
they had of this meeting rather hardened and exasperated them than
awakened them to think of the things that belonged to their peace
and honour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p5">III. A solemn examination of the crime
charged upon the men of Gibeah. A very horrid representation of it
had been made by the report of the messengers that were sent to
call them together, but it was fit it should be more closely
enquired into, because such things are often made worse than really
they were; a committee therefore was appointed to examine the
witnesses (upon oath, no doubt) and to report the matter. It is
only the testimony of the Levite himself that is here recorded, but
it is probable his servant, and the old man, were examined, and
gave in their testimony, for that more than one were examined
appears by the original (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.3" parsed="|Judg|20|3|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>), which is, <i>Tell you us;</i> and the law was that
none should be put to death, much less so many, upon the testimony
of one witness only. The Levite gives a particular account of the
matter: that he came into Gibeah only as a traveller to lodge
there, not giving the least shadow of suspicion that he designed
them any ill turn (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.4" parsed="|Judg|20|4|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>), and that the men of Gibeah, even those that were of
substance among them, that should have been a protection to the
stranger within their gates, riotously set upon the house where he
lodged, and <i>thought to slay him;</i> he could not, for shame
relate the demand which they, without shame, made, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.19.22" parsed="|Judg|19|22|0|0" passage="Jdg 19:22"><i>ch.</i> xix. 22</scripRef>. They declared
their sin as Sodom, even the sin of Sodom, but his modesty would
not suffer him to repeat it; it was sufficient to say they would
have slain him, for he would rather have been slain than have
submitted to their villany; and, if they had got him into their
hands, they would have abused him to death, witness what they had
done to his concubine: They have <i>forced her that she is
dead,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.5" parsed="|Judg|20|5|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. And,
to excite in his countrymen an indignation at this wickedness, he
had sent pieces of the mangled body to all the tribes, which had
fetched them together to bear their testimony against the
<i>lewdness and folly committed in Israel,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.6" parsed="|Judg|20|6|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. All lewdness is folly, but
especially lewdness in Israel. For those to defile their own bodies
who have the honourable seal of the covenant in their flesh, for
those to defy the divine vengeance to whom it is so clearly
revealed from heaven—Nabal is their name, and folly is with them.
He concludes his declaration with an appeal to the judgment of the
court (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.7" parsed="|Judg|20|7|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): <i>You
are all children of Israel,</i> and therefore you <i>know law and
judgment,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:Esth.1.13" parsed="|Esth|1|13|0|0" passage="Es 1:13">Esth. i. 13</scripRef>.
"You are a holy people to God, and have a dread of every thing
which will dishonour God and defile the land; you are of the same
community, members of the same body, and therefore likely to feel
from the distempers of it; you are children of Israel, that ought
to take particular care of the Levites, God's tribe, among you, and
therefore give your advice and counsel what is to be done."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p6">IV. The resolution they came to hereupon,
which was that, being now together, they would not disperse till
they had seen vengeance taken upon this wicked city, which was the
reproach and scandal of their nation. Observe, 1. Their zeal
against the lewdness that was committed. They would not return to
their houses, how much soever their families and their affairs at
home wanted them, till they had vindicated the honour of God and
Israel, and recovered with their swords, if it could not be had
otherwise, that satisfaction for the crime which the justice of the
nation called for, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.8" parsed="|Judg|20|8|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. By this they showed themselves children of Israel
indeed, that they preferred the public interest before their
private concerns. 2. Their prudence in sending out a considerable
body of their forces to fetch provisions for the rest, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.9-Judg.20.10" parsed="|Judg|20|9|20|10" passage="Jdg 20:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>. One of ten, and
he chosen by lot, 40,000 in all, must go to their respective
countries, whence they came, to fetch bread and other necessaries
for the subsistence of this great army; for when they came from
home they took with them provisions only for a journey to Mizpeh,
not for an encampment (which might prove long) before Gibeah. This
was to prevent their scattering to forage for themselves, for, if
they had done this, it would have been hard to get them all
together again, especially all in so good a mind. Note, When there
appears in people a pious zeal for any good work it is best to
strike while the iron is hot, for such zeal is apt to cool quickly
if the prosecution of the work be delayed. Let it never be said
that we left that good work to be done to-morrow which we could as
well have done to-day. 3. Their unanimity in these counsels, and
the execution of them. The resolution was voted, <i>Nemine
contradicente—Without a dissenting voice</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.8" parsed="|Judg|20|8|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>); it was one and all; and, when
it was put in execution, they were <i>knit together as one man,</i>
<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.11" parsed="|Judg|20|11|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. This was
their glory and strength, that the several tribes had no separate
interests when the common good was concerned.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jud.xxi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.12-Judg.20.17" parsed="|Judg|20|12|20|17" passage="Jud 20:12-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Judg.20.12-Judg.20.17">
<h4 id="Jud.xxi-p6.6">The War with the Benjamites. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p6.7">b. c.</span> 1410.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jud.xxi-p7">12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all
the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness <i>is</i> this that
is done among you?   13 Now therefore deliver <i>us</i> the
men, the children of Belial, which <i>are</i> in Gibeah, that we
may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the
children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their
brethren the children of Israel:   14 But the children of
Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto
Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.  
15 And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of
the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the
inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen
men.   16 Among all this people <i>there were</i> seven
hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at a
hair <i>breadth,</i> and not miss.   17 And the men of Israel,
beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew
sword: all these <i>were</i> men of war.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p8">Here is, I. The fair and just demand which
the tribes of Israel, now encamped, sent to the tribe of Benjamin,
to deliver up the malefactors of Gibeah to justice, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.12-Judg.20.13" parsed="|Judg|20|12|20|13" passage="Jdg 20:12,13"><i>v.</i> 12, 13</scripRef>. If the tribe of
Benjamin had come up, as they ought to have done, to the assembly,
and agreed with them in their resolution, there would have been
none to deal with but the men of Gibeah only, but they, by their
absence, taking part with the criminals, application must be made
to them all. The Israelites were zealous against the wickedness
that was committed, yet they were discreet in their zeal, and did
not think it would justify them in falling upon the whole tribe of
Benjamin unless they, by refusing to give up the criminals, and
protecting them against justice, should make themselves guilty,
<i>ex post facto</i>—<i>as accessaries after the fact.</i> They
desire them to consider how great the wickedness was that was
committed (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.12" parsed="|Judg|20|12|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>),
and that it was done among them: and how necessary it was therefore
that they should either punish the malefactors with death
themselves, according to the law of Moses, or deliver them up to
the general assembly, to be so much the more publicly and solemnly
punished, that evil might be put away from Israel, the national
guilt removed, the infection stopped by cutting off the gangrened
part, and national judgments prevented; for the sin was so very
like that of the Sodomites that they might justly fear, if they did
not punish it, God would rain hail from heaven upon them, as he
did, not only upon Sodom, but the neighbouring cities. If the
Israelites had not made this reasonable demand, they would have had
much more reason to lament the following desolations of Benjamin.
All methods of accommodation must be used before we go to war or go
to law. The demand was like that of Joab's to Abel, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.20.20-2Sam.20.21" parsed="|2Sam|20|20|20|21" passage="2Sa 20:20,21">2 Sam. xx. 20, 21</scripRef>. "Only deliver
up the traitor, and we will lay down our arms." On these terms, and
no other, God will be at peace with us, that we part with our sins,
that we mortify and crucify our lusts, and then all shall be well;
his anger will be turned away.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p9">II. The wretched obstinacy and perverseness
of the men of Benjamin, who seem to have been as unanimous and
zealous in their resolutions to stand by the criminals as the rest
of the tribes were to punish them, so little sense had they of
their honour, duty, and interest. 1. They were so prodigiously vile
as to patronise the wickedness that was committed: They <i>would
not hearken to the voice of their brethren</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.13" parsed="|Judg|20|13|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), either because those of that
tribe were generally more vicious and debauched at this time than
the rest of the tribes, and therefore would not bear to have that
punished in others of which they knew themselves guilty (some of
the most fruitful and pleasant parts of Canaan fell to the lot of
this tribe; their land, like that of Sodom, was <i>as the garden of
the Lord,</i> which perhaps helped to make the inhabitants, like
the men of Sodom, wicked, and <i>sinners before the Lord
exceedingly,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.13.10 Bible:Gen.13.13" parsed="|Gen|13|10|0|0;|Gen|13|13|0|0" passage="Ge 13:10,13">Gen. xiii. 10,
13</scripRef>), or because (as bishop Patrick suggests) they took
it ill that the other tribes should meddle with their concerns;
they would not do that which they knew was their duty because they
were reminded of it by their brethren, by whom they scorned to be
taught and controlled. If there were any wise men among them that
would have complied with the demand made, yet they were overpowered
by the majority, who thus made the crime of the men of Gibeah their
own. Thus we have <i>fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness</i> if we say <i>A confederacy</i> with those that have,
and make ourselves guilty of other men's sins by countenancing and
defending them. It seems there is no cause so bad but it will find
some patrons, some advocates, to appear for it; but <i>woe be to
those by whom such offences come.</i> Those will have a great deal
to answer for that obstruct the course of necessary justice, and
strengthen the hands of the wicked, by saying, <i>O wicked man!
thou shalt not die.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p10">2. They were so prodigiously vain and
presumptuous as to make head against the united force of all
Israel. Never, surely, were men so wretchedly infatuated as they
were when they took up arms in opposition, (1.) To so good a cause
as Israel had. How could they expect to prosper when they fought
against justice, and consequently against the just God himself,
against those that had the high priest and the divine oracle on
their side, and so acted in downright rebellion against the sacred
and supreme authority of the nation. (2.) To so great a force as
Israel had. The disproportion of their numbers was much greater
than that, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.14.31-Luke.14.32" parsed="|Luke|14|31|14|32" passage="Lu 14:31,32">Luke xiv. 31,
32</scripRef>, where he that had but 10,000 durst not meet him that
came against him with 20,000, and therefore desired conditions of
peace. There the enemy was but two to one, here above fifteen to
one; yet they despised conditions of peace. All the forces they
could bring into the field were but 26,000 men, besides 700 men of
Gibeah (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.15" parsed="|Judg|20|15|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>); yet
with these they will dare to face 400,000 men of Israel, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.17" parsed="|Judg|20|17|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. Thus sinners are
infatuated to their own ruin, and provoke him to jealousy who is
infinitely stronger than they, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.10.22" parsed="|1Cor|10|22|0|0" passage="1Co 10:22">1 Cor.
x. 22</scripRef>. But it should seem they depended upon the skill
of their men to make up what was wanting in numbers, especially a
regiment of slingers, 700 men, who, though left-handed, were so
dexterous at slinging stones that they would not be a hair's
breadth beside their mark, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.16" parsed="|Judg|20|16|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:16"><i>v.</i>
16</scripRef>. But these good marksmen were very much out in their
aim when they espoused this bad cause. <i>Benjamin</i> signifies
<i>the son of the right hand,</i> yet we find his posterity
left-handed.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jud.xxi-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.18-Judg.20.25" parsed="|Judg|20|18|20|25" passage="Jud 20:18-25" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Judg.20.18-Judg.20.25">
<p class="passage" id="Jud.xxi-p11">18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up
to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of
us shall go up first to the battle against the children of
Benjamin? And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p11.1">Lord</span> said, Judah
<i>shall go up</i> first.   19 And the children of Israel rose
up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.   20 And the
men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of
Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.
  21 And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah,
and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty
and two thousand men.   22 And the people the men of Israel
encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the
place where they put themselves in array the first day.   23
(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p11.2">Lord</span> until even, and asked counsel of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p11.3">Lord</span>, saying, Shall I go up again to
battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p11.4">Lord</span> said, Go up against him.)   24
And the children of Israel came near against the children of
Benjamin the second day.   25 And Benjamin went forth against
them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground
of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these
drew the sword.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p12">We have here the defeat of the men of
Israel in their first and second battle with the Benjamites.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p13">I. Before their first engagement they asked
counsel of God concerning the order of their battle and were
directed, and yet they were sorely beaten. They did not think it
was proper to ask of God whether they should go up at all against
Benjamin (the case was plain enough, the men of Gibeah must be
punished for their wickedness, and Israel must inflict the
punishment or it will not be done), but "Who shall go first?"
(<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.18" parsed="|Judg|20|18|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), that is,
"Who shall be general of our army?" for, which soever tribe was
appointed to go first, the prince of that tribe must be looked upon
as commander-in-chief of the whole body. For, if they had meant it
of the order of their march only, it would have been proper to ask,
"Who shall go next?" and then, "Who next?" But, if they know that
Judah must go first, they know they must all observe the orders of
the prince of that tribe. This honour was done to Judah because our
Lord Jesus was to spring from that tribe, who was in all things to
have the pre-eminence. The tribe that went up first had the most
honourable post, but withal the most dangerous, and probably lost
most in the engagement. Who would strive for precedency that sees
the peril of it? Yet though Judah, that strong and valiant tribe,
goes up first, and all the tribes of Israel attend them, <i>little
Benjamin</i> (so he is called, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.27" parsed="|Ps|68|27|0|0" passage="Ps 68:27">Ps.
lxviii. 27</scripRef>), is too hard for them all. The whole army
lays siege to Gibeah, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.19" parsed="|Judg|20|19|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. The Benjamites advance to raise the siege, and the
army prepares to give them a warm reception, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.20" parsed="|Judg|20|20|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. But between the Benjamites
that attacked them in the front with incredible fury, and the men
of Gibeah that sallied out upon their rear, they were put into
confusion and lost 22,000 men, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.21" parsed="|Judg|20|21|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. Here were no prisoners taken,
for there was no quarter given, but all put to the sword.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p14">II. Before their second engagement they
again <i>asked counsel of God,</i> and more solemnly than before;
for they <i>wept before the Lord until evening</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.23" parsed="|Judg|20|23|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), lamenting the loss of
so many brave men, especially as it was a token of God's
displeasure and would give occasion to the Benjamites to triumph in
the success of their wickedness. Also at this time they did not ask
who should go up first, but whether they should go up at all. The
intimate a reason why they should scruple to do it, especially now
that Providence had frowned upon them, because Benjamin was their
brother, and a readiness to lay down their arms if God should so
order them. God bade them go up; he allowed the attempt, for,
though Benjamin was their brother, he was a gangrened member of
their body and must be cut off. Upon this they encouraged
themselves, perhaps more in their own strength than in the divine
commission, and made a second attempt upon the forces of the
rebels, in the same place where the former battle was fought
(<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.22" parsed="|Judg|20|22|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), with the
hope of retrieving their credit upon the same spot of ground where
they had lost it, which they would not superstitiously change, as
if there were any thing unlucky in the place. But they were this
second time repulsed, with the loss of 18,000 men, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.25" parsed="|Judg|20|25|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. The former day's loss
and this amounted to 40,000, which was just a tenth part of the
whole army, and the same number that they had drawn out by lot to
fetch victuals, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.10" parsed="|Judg|20|10|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. They decimated themselves for that service, and now
God again decimated them for the slaughter. But what shall we say
to these things, that so just and honourable a cause should thus be
put to the worst once and again? Were they not fighting God's
battle against sin? Had they not his commission? What, and yet
miscarry thus! 1. God's judgments are a great deep, and his way is
in the sea. <i>Clouds and darkness are</i> often <i>round about</i>
him, <i>but judgment and justice are</i> always <i>the habitation
of his throne.</i> We may be sure of the righteousness, when we
cannot see the reasons, of God's proceedings. 2. God would hereby
show them, and us in them, that <i>the race is not to the swift nor
the battle to the strong,</i> that we are not to confide in
numbers, which perhaps the Israelites did with too much assurance.
We must never lay the weight on an arm of flesh, which only the
Rock of ages will bear. 3. God designed hereby to correct Israel
for their sins. They did well to show such a zeal against the
wickedness of Gibeah: but <i>were there not with them, even with
them, sins against the Lord their God?</i> Those must be made to
know their own iniquity that are forward in condemning the iniquity
of others. Some think it was a rebuke to them for not witnessing
against the idolatry of Micah and the Danites, by which their
religion was corrupted, as they now did against the lewdness of
Gibeah and the Benjamites, by which the public peace was disturbed,
though God had particularly ordered them to levy war upon
idolaters, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.13.12-Deut.13.18" parsed="|Deut|13|12|13|18" passage="De 13:12-18">Deut. xiii.
12</scripRef>, &amp;c. 4. God would hereby teach us not to think it
strange if a good cause should suffer defeat for a while, nor to
judge of the merits of it by the success of it. The interest of
grace in the heart, and of religion in the world, may be foiled,
and suffer great loss, and seem to be quite run down, but judgment
will be brought forth to victory at last. <i>Vincimur in prælio,
sed non in bello—We are foiled in a battle, but not in the whole
campaign.</i> Right may fall, but it shall arise.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jud.xxi-p0.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.26-Judg.20.48" parsed="|Judg|20|26|20|48" passage="Jud 20:26-48" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Judg.20.26-Judg.20.48">
<h4 id="Jud.xxi-p14.7">The Defeat of the
Benjamites. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p14.8">b. c.</span> 1410.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jud.xxi-p15">26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the
people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat
there before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p15.1">Lord</span>, and fasted
that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace
offerings before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p15.2">Lord</span>.   27
And the children of Israel enquired of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p15.3">Lord</span>, (for the ark of the covenant of God
<i>was</i> there in those days,   28 And Phinehas, the son of
Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying,
Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin
my brother, or shall I cease? And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p15.4">Lord</span> said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver
them into thine hand.   29 And Israel set liers in wait round
about Gibeah.   30 And 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.   31 And the children
of Benjamin went out against the people, <i>and</i> were drawn away
from the city; and they began to smite of the people, <i>and</i>
kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to
the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about
thirty men of Israel.   32 And the children of Benjamin said,
They <i>are</i> smitten down before us, as at the first. But the
children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city
unto the highways.   33 And all the men of Israel rose up out
of their place, and put themselves in array at Baal-tamar: and the
liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, <i>even</i>
out of the meadows of Gibeah.   34 And there came against
Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle
was sore: but they knew not that evil <i>was</i> near them.  
35 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xxi-p15.5">Lord</span> smote Benjamin
before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the
Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and a hundred men: all
these drew the sword.   36 So 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.   37 And the liers in wait hasted, and
rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew <i>themselves</i>
along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.   38
Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the
liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise
up out of the city.   39 And when the men of Israel retired in
the battle, Benjamin began to smite <i>and</i> kill of the men of
Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten
down before us, as <i>in</i> the first battle.   40 But when
the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke,
the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the
city ascended up to heaven.   41 And when the men of Israel
turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that
evil was come upon them.   42 Therefore they turned <i>their
backs</i> before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness;
but the battle overtook them; and them which <i>came</i> out of the
cities they destroyed in the midst of them.   43 <i>Thus</i>
they inclosed the Benjamites round about, <i>and</i> chased them,
<i>and</i> trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the
sunrising.   44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand
men; all these <i>were</i> men of valour.   45 And they turned
and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they
gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard
after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.   46
So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five
thousand men that drew the sword; all these <i>were</i> men of
valour.   47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the
wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four
months.   48 And the men of Israel turned again upon the
children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as
well the men of <i>every</i> city, as the beast, and all that came
to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came
to.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p16">We have here a full account of the complete
victory which the Israelites obtained over the Benjamites in the
third engagement: the righteous cause was victorious at last, when
the managers of it amended what had been amiss; for, when a good
cause suffers, it is for want of good management. Observe then how
the victory was obtained, and how it was pursued.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p17">I. How the victory was obtained. Two things
they had trusted too much to in the former engagements—the
goodness of their cause and the superiority of their numbers. It
was true that they had both right and strength on their side, which
were great advantages; but they depended too much upon them, to the
neglect of those duties to which now, this third time, when they
see their error, they apply themselves.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p18">1. They were previously so confident of the
goodness of their cause that they thought it needless to address
themselves to God for his presence and blessing. They took it for
granted that God would bless them, nay, perhaps they concluded that
he owed them his favour, and could not in justice withhold it,
since it was in defence of virtue that they appeared and took up
arms. But God having shown them that he was under no obligation to
prosper their enterprise, that he neither needed them nor was tied
to them, that they were more indebted to him for the honour of
being ministers of his justice than he to them for the service, now
they became humble petitioners for success. Before they only
consulted God's oracle, <i>Who shall go up first?</i> And, <i>Shall
we go up?</i> But now they implored his favour, fasted and prayed,
and <i>offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.26" parsed="|Judg|20|26|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>), to make an atonement
for sin and an acknowledgment of their dependence upon God, and as
an expression of their desire towards him. We cannot expect the
presence of God with us, unless we thus seek it in the way he has
appointed. And when they were in this frame, and thus sought the
Lord, then he not only ordered them to go up against the Benjamites
the third time, but gave them a promise of victory: <i>Tomorrow I
will deliver them into thy hand,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.28" parsed="|Judg|20|28|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p19">2. They were previously so confident of the
greatness of their strength that they thought it needless to use
any art, to lay any ambush, or form a stratagem, not doubting but
to conquer purely by a strong hand; but now they saw it was
requisite to use some policy, as if they had an enemy to deal with
them that had been superior in number; accordingly, they set
<i>liers in wait</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.29" parsed="|Judg|20|29|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:29"><i>v.</i>
29</scripRef>), and gained their point, as their fathers did before
Ai (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.8.1-Josh.8.35" parsed="|Josh|8|1|8|35" passage="Jos 8:1-35">Josh. viii.</scripRef>),
stratagems of that kind being most likely to take effect after a
previous defeat, which has flushed the enemy, and made the
pretended flight the less suspected. The management of this
artifice is here very largely described. The assurance God had
given them of success in this day's action, instead of making them
remiss and presumptuous, set all heads and hands on work for the
effecting of what God had promised.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p20">(1.) Observe the method they took. The body
of the army faced the city of Gibeah, as they had done before,
advancing towards the gates, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.30" parsed="|Judg|20|30|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>. The Benjamites, the body of
whose army was now quartered at Gibeah, sallied out upon them, and
charged them with great bravery. The besiegers gave back, retired
with precipitation, as if their hearts failed them upon the sight
of the Benjamites, which they were willing to believe, proudly
imagining that by their former success they had made themselves
very formidable. Some loss the Israelites sustained in this
counterfeit flight, about thirty men being cut off in their rear,
<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.31 Bible:Judg.20.39" parsed="|Judg|20|31|0|0;|Judg|20|39|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:31,39"><i>v.</i> 31, 39</scripRef>. But,
when the Benjamites were all drawn out of the city, the ambush
seized the city (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.37" parsed="|Judg|20|37|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:37"><i>v.</i>
37</scripRef>), gave a signal to the body of the army (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.38 Bible:Judg.20.40" parsed="|Judg|20|38|0|0;|Judg|20|40|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:38,40"><i>v.</i> 38, 40</scripRef>), which
immediately turned upon them (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.41" parsed="|Judg|20|41|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:41"><i>v.</i> 41</scripRef>), and, it should seem, another
considerable party that was posted at Baal-tamar came upon them at
the same time (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.33" parsed="|Judg|20|33|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:33"><i>v.</i>
33</scripRef>); so that the Benjamites were quite surrounded, which
put them into the greatest consternation that could be. A sense of
guilt now disheartened them, and the higher their hopes had been
raised the more grievous was this confusion. At first <i>the battle
was sore</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p20.7" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.34" parsed="|Judg|20|34|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:34"><i>v.</i>
34</scripRef>), the Benjamites fought with fury; but, when they saw
what a snare they were drawn into, they thought one pair of heels
(as we say) was worth two pair of hands, and they made the best of
their way <i>towards the wilderness</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p20.8" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.42" parsed="|Judg|20|42|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:42"><i>v.</i> 42</scripRef>); but in vain: <i>the battle
overtook them,</i> and, to complete their distress, <i>those who
came out of the cities of Israel,</i> that waited to see the event
of the battle, joined with their pursuers, and helped to cut them
off. Every man's hand was against them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p21">(2.) Observe in this story, [1.] That the
Benjamites, in the beginning of the battle, were confident that the
day was their own: <i>They are smitten down before us,</i>
<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.32 Bible:Judg.20.39" parsed="|Judg|20|32|0|0;|Judg|20|39|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:32,39"><i>v.</i> 32, 39</scripRef>.
Sometimes God suffers wicked men to be lifted up in successes and
hopes, that their fall may be the sorer. See how short their joy
is, and their triumphing but for a moment. <i>Let not him that
girdeth on the harness boast,</i> except he has reason to boast in
God. [2.] Evil was near them and they did not know it, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.34" parsed="|Judg|20|34|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>. But (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.41" parsed="|Judg|20|41|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:41"><i>v.</i> 41</scripRef>) they saw, when it was
too late to prevent it, <i>that evil had come upon them.</i> What
evils may at any time be near us we cannot tell, but the less they
are feared the heavier they fall. Sinners will not be persuaded to
see evil near them, but how dreadful will it be when it comes and
there is no escaping! <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.5.3" parsed="|1Thess|5|3|0|0" passage="1Th 5:3">1 Thess. v.
3</scripRef>. [3.] Though the men of Israel played their parts so
well in this engagement, yet the victory is ascribed to God
(<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.35" parsed="|Judg|20|35|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>): <i>The
Lord smote Benjamin before Israel.</i> The battle was his, and so
was the success. [4.] They <i>trode down the men of Benjamin with
ease</i> when God fought against them, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.43" parsed="|Judg|20|43|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:43"><i>v.</i> 43</scripRef>. It is an easy thing to trample
upon those who have made God their enemy. See <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p21.7" osisRef="Bible:Mal.4.3" parsed="|Mal|4|3|0|0" passage="Mal 4:3">Mal. iv. 3</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xxi-p22">II. How the victory was prosecuted and
improved in a military execution done upon these sinners against
their own souls. 1. Gibeah itself, that nest of lewdness, was
destroyed in the first place. The ambush that entered the city by
surprise <i>drew themselves along,</i> that is, dispersed
themselves into the several parts of it, which they might easily
do, now that all the men of war had sallied out and very
presumptuously left it defenceless; and they smote all they found,
even women and children, <i>with the sword</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.37" parsed="|Judg|20|37|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:37"><i>v.</i> 37</scripRef>), and set fire to the city,
<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.40" parsed="|Judg|20|40|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:40"><i>v.</i> 40</scripRef>. Sin brings
ruin upon cities. 2. The army in the field was quite routed and cut
off: 18,000 men of valour lay dead upon the spot, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.44" parsed="|Judg|20|44|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:44"><i>v.</i> 44</scripRef>. 3. Those that escaped
from the field were pursued, and cut off in their flight, to the
number of 7000, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.45" parsed="|Judg|20|45|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:45"><i>v.</i>
45</scripRef>. It is to no purpose to think of out-running divine
vengeance. <i>Evil pursues sinners,</i> and it will overtake them.
4. Even those that tarried at home were involved in the ruin. They
<i>let their sword devour for ever,</i> not considering that <i>it
would be bitterness in the latter end,</i> as Abner pleads long
after, when he was at the head of an army of Benjamites, probably
with an eye to this very story, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p22.5" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.2.25-2Sam.2.26" parsed="|2Sam|2|25|2|26" passage="2Sa 2:25,26">2
Sam. ii. 25, 26</scripRef>. They put to the sword all that
breathed, and set fire to <i>all the cities,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p22.6" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.48" parsed="|Judg|20|48|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:48"><i>v.</i> 48</scripRef>. So that of all the tribe of
Benjamin, for aught that appears, there remained none alive but 600
men that took shelter in the rock Rimmon, and lay close there four
months, <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p22.7" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.47" parsed="|Judg|20|47|0|0" passage="Jdg 20:47"><i>v.</i> 47</scripRef>. Now,
(1.) It is difficult to justify this severity as it was Israel's
act. The whole tribe of Benjamin was culpable; but must they
therefore be treated as devoted Canaanites? That it was done in the
heat of war, that this was the way of prosecuting victories which
the sword of Israel had been accustomed to, that the Israelites
were extremely exasperated against the Benjamites for the slaughter
they had made among them in the two former engagements, will go but
a little way to excuse the cruelty of this execution. It is true
they had sworn that whosoever did not come up to Mizpeh should be
<i>put to death,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p22.8" osisRef="Bible:Judg.21.5" parsed="|Judg|21|5|0|0" passage="Jdg 21:5"><i>ch.</i> xxi.
5</scripRef>. But that, if it was a justifiable oath, yet extended
only to the men of war; the rest were not expected to come. Yet,
(2.) It is easy to justify the hand of God in it. Benjamin had
sinned against him, and God had threatened that, if they forgot
him, they should <i>perish as the nations</i> that were before them
perished (<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p22.9" osisRef="Bible:Deut.8.20" parsed="|Deut|8|20|0|0" passage="De 8:20">Deut. viii. 20</scripRef>),
who were all in this manner cut off. (3.) It is easy likewise to
improve it for warning against the beginnings of sin: they are
<i>like the letting forth of water, therefore leave it off before
it be meddled with,</i> for we know not <i>what will be in the end
thereof.</i> The eternal ruin of souls will be worse, and more
fearful, than all these desolations of a tribe. This affair of
Gibeah is twice spoken of by the prophet Hosea as the beginning of
the corruption of Israel and a pattern to all that followed
(<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p22.10" osisRef="Bible:Hos.9.9" parsed="|Hos|9|9|0|0" passage="Ho 9:9">Hos. ix. 9</scripRef>): <i>They have
deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah;</i> and
(<scripRef id="Jud.xxi-p22.11" osisRef="Bible:Hos.10.9" parsed="|Hos|10|9|0|0" passage="Ho 10:9">Hos. x. 9</scripRef>), <i>Thou hast
sinned from the days of Gibeah;</i> and it is added that <i>the
battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not</i> (that
is, did not <i>at first</i>) overtake them.</p>
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