Judg 20:17-48 | TSK | e4.org | four hundred ; , ; , ; ;

‏ Judges 20:17-48

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

stood Deut 10:8, Deut 18:5

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

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

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

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

drawn Josh 8:14-16

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

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

thirty Josh 7:5

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

rose up Josh 8:18-22

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

ten thousand Judg 20:29

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

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

for the men Josh 8:15-29

the liers in wait hasted Josh 8:19

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

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

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

and Heb. with

flame Heb. elevation

And when Judg 20:31

smite and kill Heb. smite the wounded

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

looked Josh 8:20

flame Heb. whole consumption

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

was come upon them Heb. touched them

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

enclosed Josh 8:20-22

with ease or, from Menuchah, etc

over against Heb. unto over against

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

twenty Judg 20:15, Judg 20:35

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

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

came to hand Heb. was found

they came to Heb. were found