Judges 20

Chap. XXI. ver. 3. — why is this come to pass &c.] This is an usual way of expressing great grief: they now bewail the melancholy prospect of the loss of a whole tribe, as there were no women remaining with whom the few remaining Benjamites might marry: and they had bound themselves by oath not to give them any of their own daughters. Bp. Patrick. Commisseration of their brethren now led them to publick repentance. Even the most just revenge of men is capable of pity. Charitable minds are grieved to see that done, which they would not wish undone. God himself takes no pleasure in the death of a sinner, yet loves the punishment of sin: as a good parent corrects his child, yet weeps himself. There is a measure in punishment, however just; when this is exceeded, mercy is lost in the pursuit of justice. Bp. Hall.

Judges 20:48

48. And the men of Israel turned again &c.] Notwithstanding the laws against idolatry were so very severe, Deut. xiii. 8, yet in the case of Micah and the tribe of Dan, the rulers of Israel were so far from putting the laws in force, that they appear to have connived at it. Therefore God took occasion, from this quarrel between the other tribes and the tribe of Benjamin, to use the latter as scourges to punish the base connivance of the Vot. I.

former. And, after He had twice employed them for this purpose, He inverted the fate of war, and in so doing made the confederate army of Israel the instruments of His terrible vengeance on the Benjamites. Such is the wonderful wisdom of God’s providence, to employ the passions of men to His purposes, and to make one wicked set of people the instruments for punishing another. Stackhouse.

Wives are provided for the Benjamites that escaped. Before CHRIST about 1406. before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;