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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Judges, Chapter XX].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J U D G E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XX.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Into the book of the wars of the Lord the story of this chapter must be
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brought, but it looks as sad and uncomfortable as any article in all
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that history; for there is nothing in it that looks in the least bright
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or pleasant but the pious zeal of Israel against the wickedness of the
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men of Gibeah, which made it on their side a just and holy war; but
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otherwise the obstinacy of the Benjamites in protecting their
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criminals, which was the foundation of the war, the vast loss which the
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Israelites sustained in carrying on the war, and (though the righteous
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cause was victorious at last) the issuing of the war in the almost
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utter extirpation of the tribe of Benjamin, make it, from first to
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last, melancholy. And yet this happened soon after the glorious
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settlement of Israel in the land of promise, upon which one would have
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expected every thing to be prosperous and serene. In this chapter we
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have,
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I. The Levite's cause heard in a general convention of the tribes,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:1-7">ver. 1-7</A>.
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II. A unanimous resolve to avenge his quarrel upon the men of Gibeah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:8-11">ver. 8-11</A>.
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III. The Benjamites appearing in defence of the criminals,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:12-17">ver. 12-17</A>.
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IV. The defeat of Israel in the first and second day's battle,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:18-25">ver. 18-25</A>.
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V. Their humbling themselves before God upon that occasion,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:26-28">ver. 26-28</A>.
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VI. The total rout they gave the Benjamites in the third engagement, by
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a stratagem, by which they were all cut off, except 600 men,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:29-48">ver. 29-48</A>.
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And all this the effect of the indignities done to one poor Levite and
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his wife; so little do those that do iniquity consider what will be the
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end thereof.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Jud20_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Combination Against Gibeah.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1410.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the
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congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to
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Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> in Mizpeh.
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2 And the chief of all the people, <I>even</I> of all the tribes of
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Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of
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God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.
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3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of
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Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel,
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Tell <I>us,</I> how was this wickedness?
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4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain,
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answered and said, I came into Gibeah that <I>belongeth</I> to
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Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
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5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house
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round about upon me by night, <I>and</I> thought to have slain me: and
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my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.
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6 And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her
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throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they
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have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
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7 Behold, ye <I>are</I> all children of Israel; give here your
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advice and counsel.
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8 And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any
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<I>of us</I> go to his tent, neither will we any <I>of us</I> turn into his
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house.
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9 But now this <I>shall be</I> the thing which we will do to Gibeah;
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<I>we will go up</I> by lot against it;
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10 And we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the
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tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand
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out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they
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may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all
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the folly that they have wrought in Israel.
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11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city,
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knit together as one man.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. A general meeting of all the congregation of Israel to examine the
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matter concerning the Levite's concubine, and to consider what was to
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be done upon it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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It does not appear that they were summoned by the authority of any one
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common head, but they came together by the consent and agreement, as it
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were, of one common heart, fired with a holy zeal for the honour of God
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and Israel.
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1. The place of their meeting was <I>Mizpeh;</I> they gathered together
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unto the Lord there, for Mizpeh was so very near to Shiloh that their
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encampment might very well be supposed to reach from Mizpeh to Shiloh.
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Shiloh was a small town, and therefore, when there was a general
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meeting of the people to represent themselves before God, they chose
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Mizpeh for their head-quarters, which was the next adjoining city of
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note, perhaps because they were not willing to give that trouble to
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Shiloh which so great an assembly would occasion, it being the resident
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of the priests that attended the tabernacle.
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2. The persons that met were all Israel, from Dan (the city very lately
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so called,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+18:29"><I>ch.</I> xviii. 29</A>)
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in the north to Beersheba in the south, with the land of Gilead (that
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is, the tribes on the other side Jordan), all <I>as one man,</I> so
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unanimous were they in their concern for the public good. Here was an
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assembly of the people of God, not a convocation of the Levites and
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priests, though a Levite was the person principally concerned in the
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cause, but an assembly of the people, to whom the Levite referred
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himself with an <I>Appello populum--I appeal to the people.</I> The
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<I>people of God were</I> 400,000 <I>footmen that drew the sword,</I>
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that is, were armed and disciplined, and fit for service, and some of
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them perhaps such as had <I>known the wars of Canaan,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+3:1"><I>ch.</I> iii. 1</A>.
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In this assembly of all Israel, the chief (or corners) of the people
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(for rulers are the corner-stones of the people, that keep all
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together) presented themselves as the representatives of the rest. They
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rendered themselves at their respective posts, at the head of the
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thousands and hundreds, the fifties and tens, over which they presided;
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for so much order and government, we may suppose, at least, they had
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among them, though they had no general or commander-in-chief. So that
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here was,
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(1.) A general congress of the states for counsel. The chief of the
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people presented themselves, to lead and direct in this affair.
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(2.) A general rendezvous of the militia for action, all that drew
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sword and were men of war
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
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not hirelings nor pressed men, but the best freeholders, that went at
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their own charge. Israel were above 600,000 when they came into Canaan,
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and we have reason to think they were at this time much increased,
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rather than diminished; but then all between twenty and sixty were
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military men, now we may suppose more than the one half exempted from
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bearing arms to cultivate the land; so that these were as the trained
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bands. The militia of the two tribes and a half were 40,000
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+4:13">Josh. iv. 13</A>),
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but the tribes were many more.</P>
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<P>
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II. Notice given to the tribe of Benjamin of this meeting
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>They heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpeh.</I>
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Probably they had a legal summons sent them to appear with their
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brethren, that the cause might be fairly debated, before any
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resolutions were taken up upon it, and so the mischiefs that followed
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would have been happily prevented; but the notice they had of this
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meeting rather hardened and exasperated them than awakened them to
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think of the things that belonged to their peace and honour.</P>
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<P>
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III. A solemn examination of the crime charged upon the men of Gibeah.
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A very horrid representation of it had been made by the report of the
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messengers that were sent to call them together, but it was fit it
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should be more closely enquired into, because such things are often
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made worse than really they were; a committee therefore was appointed
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to examine the witnesses (upon oath, no doubt) and to report the
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matter. It is only the testimony of the Levite himself that is here
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recorded, but it is probable his servant, and the old man, were
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examined, and gave in their testimony, for that more than one were
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examined appears by the original
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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which is, <I>Tell you us;</I> and the law was that none should be put
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to death, much less so many, upon the testimony of one witness only.
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The Levite gives a particular account of the matter: that he came into
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Gibeah only as a traveller to lodge there, not giving the least shadow
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of suspicion that he designed them any ill turn
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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and that the men of Gibeah, even those that were of substance among
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them, that should have been a protection to the stranger within their
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gates, riotously set upon the house where he lodged, and <I>thought to
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slay him;</I> he could not, for shame relate the demand which they,
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without shame, made,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+19:22"><I>ch.</I> xix. 22</A>.
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They declared their sin as Sodom, even the sin of Sodom, but his
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modesty would not suffer him to repeat it; it was sufficient to say
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they would have slain him, for he would rather have been slain than
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have submitted to their villany; and, if they had got him into their
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hands, they would have abused him to death, witness what they had done
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to his concubine: They have <I>forced her that she is dead,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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And, to excite in his countrymen an indignation at this wickedness, he
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had sent pieces of the mangled body to all the tribes, which had
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fetched them together to bear their testimony against the <I>lewdness
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and folly committed in Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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All lewdness is folly, but especially lewdness in Israel. For those to
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defile their own bodies who have the honourable seal of the covenant in
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their flesh, for those to defy the divine vengeance to whom it is so
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clearly revealed from heaven--Nabal is their name, and folly is with
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them. He concludes his declaration with an appeal to the judgment of
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the court
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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<I>You are all children of Israel,</I> and therefore you <I>know law
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and judgment,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+1:13">Esth. i. 13</A>.
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"You are a holy people to God, and have a dread of every thing which
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will dishonour God and defile the land; you are of the same community,
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members of the same body, and therefore likely to feel from the
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distempers of it; you are children of Israel, that ought to take
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particular care of the Levites, God's tribe, among you, and therefore
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give your advice and counsel what is to be done."</P>
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<P>
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IV. The resolution they came to hereupon, which was that, being now
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together, they would not disperse till they had seen vengeance taken
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upon this wicked city, which was the reproach and scandal of their
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nation. Observe,
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1. Their zeal against the lewdness that was committed. They would not
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return to their houses, how much soever their families and their
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affairs at home wanted them, till they had vindicated the honour of God
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and Israel, and recovered with their swords, if it could not be had
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otherwise, that satisfaction for the crime which the justice of the
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nation called for,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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By this they showed themselves children of Israel indeed, that they
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preferred the public interest before their private concerns.
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2. Their prudence in sending out a considerable body of their forces to
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fetch provisions for the rest,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>.
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One of ten, and he chosen by lot, 40,000 in all, must go to their
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respective countries, whence they came, to fetch bread and other
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necessaries for the subsistence of this great army; for when they came
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from home they took with them provisions only for a journey to Mizpeh,
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not for an encampment (which might prove long) before Gibeah. This was
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to prevent their scattering to forage for themselves, for, if they had
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done this, it would have been hard to get them all together again,
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especially all in so good a mind. Note, When there appears in people a
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pious zeal for any good work it is best to strike while the iron is
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hot, for such zeal is apt to cool quickly if the prosecution of the
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work be delayed. Let it never be said that we left that good work to be
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done to-morrow which we could as well have done to-day.
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3. Their unanimity in these counsels, and the execution of them. The
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resolution was voted, <I>Nemine contradicente--Without a dissenting
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voice</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>);
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it was one and all; and, when it was put in execution, they were
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<I>knit together as one man,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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This was their glory and strength, that the several tribes had no
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separate interests when the common good was concerned.</P>
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<A NAME="Jud20_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jud20_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The War with the Benjamites.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1410.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
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<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of
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Benjamin, saying, What wickedness <I>is</I> this that is done among
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you?
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13 Now therefore deliver <I>us</I> the men, the children of Belial,
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which <I>are</I> in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put
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away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not
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hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
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14 But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together
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out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the
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children of Israel.
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15 And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out
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of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside
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the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred
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chosen men.
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16 Among all this people <I>there were</I> seven hundred chosen men
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lefthanded; every one could sling stones at a hair <I>breadth,</I>
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and not miss.
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17 And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four
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hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these <I>were</I> men of
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war.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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|
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|
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
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|
to justice,
|
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
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|
|
|
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
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|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+20:20,21">2 Sam. xx. 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
"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>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:10,13">Gen. xiii. 10, 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+14:31,32">Luke xiv. 31, 32</A>,
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>);
|
|
|
|
yet with these they will dare to face 400,000 men of Israel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus sinners are infatuated to their own ruin, and provoke him to
|
|
jealousy who is infinitely stronger than they,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:22">1 Cor. x. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_25"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
|
|
until even, and asked counsel of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, saying, Shall I go up
|
|
again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And
|
|
the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the defeat of the men of Israel in their first and second
|
|
battle with the Benjamites.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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?"
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:27">Ps. lxviii. 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
is too hard for them all. The whole army lays siege to Gibeah,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Benjamites advance to raise the siege, and the army prepares to
|
|
give them a warm reception,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here were no prisoners taken, for there was no quarter given, but all
|
|
put to the sword.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+13:12-18">Deut. xiii. 12</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c.
|
|
|
|
4. God would hereby teach us not to think it strange if a good cause
|
|
should suffer defeat fore 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>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jud20_48"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Defeat of the Benjamites.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1410.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and fasted that day until even, and offered
|
|
burnt offerings and peace offerings before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
27 And the children of Israel enquired of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, (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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here a full account of the complete victory which the
|
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Israelites obtained over the Benjamites in the third engagement: the
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righteous cause was victorious at last, when the managers of it amended
|
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what had been amiss; for, when a good cause suffers, it is for want of
|
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good management. Observe then how the victory was obtained, and how it
|
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was pursued.</P>
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<P>
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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
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|
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
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third time, when they see their error, they apply themselves.</P>
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<P>
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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
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|
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
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|
they only consulted God's oracle, <I>Who shall go up first?</I> And,
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|
<I>Shall we go up?</I> But now they implored his favour, fasted and
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prayed, and <I>offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>),
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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
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|
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
|
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third time, but gave them a promise of victory: <I>Tomorrow I will
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deliver them into thy hand,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.</P>
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<P>
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|
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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,
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they set <I>liers in wait</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>),
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and gained their point, as their fathers did before Ai
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+8:1-35">Josh. viii.</A>),
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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
|
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heads and hands on work for the effecting of what God had promised.</P>
|
|
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<P>
|
|
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|
(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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
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|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:31,39"><I>v.</I> 31, 39</A>.
|
|
|
|
But, when the Benjamites were all drawn out of the city, the ambush
|
|
seized the city
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>),
|
|
|
|
gave a signal to the body of the army
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:38,40"><I>v.</I> 38, 40</A>),
|
|
|
|
which immediately turned upon them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>),
|
|
|
|
and, it should seem, another considerable party that was posted at
|
|
Baal-tamar came upon them at the same time
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>);
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:42"><I>v.</I> 42</A>);
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:32,39"><I>v.</I> 32, 39</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
|
|
|
|
But
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>)
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+5:3">1 Thess. v. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Though the men of Israel played their parts so well in this
|
|
engagement, yet the victory is ascribed to God
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>):
|
|
|
|
<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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:43"><I>v.</I> 43</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is an easy thing to trample upon those who have made God their
|
|
enemy. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+4:3">Mal. iv. 3</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>),
|
|
|
|
and set fire to the city,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. Those that escaped from the field were pursued, and cut off in their
|
|
flight, to the number of 7000,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:45"><I>v.</I> 45</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+2:25,26">2 Sam. ii. 25, 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
They put to the sword all that breathed, and set fire to <I>all the
|
|
cities,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:48"><I>v.</I> 48</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:47"><I>v.</I> 47</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+21:5"><I>ch.</I> xxi. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
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 sinner
|
|
against him, and God had threatened that, if they forgot him, they
|
|
should <I>perish as the nations</I> that were before them perished
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+8:20">Deut. viii. 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+9:9">Hos. ix. 9</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah;</I>
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+10:9">Hos. x. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
<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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