Judges 20

The children of Israel assemble with an accord at Mizpa and take notice of the fact done to the Levites concubines verse1&c. give orders what tope done and send men to the tribe of Benjamin to require the delinquents to be delivered up to justice but receive a flat denial 8 whereupon having consulted up with God they march up to fight against them but are twice followed 18 afterwards being humbled and receiving clearer revelation from god by Pinehas the high priest they march up yet once more and smite those of Benjamin so as that they destroy the whole tribe both men and women and burn all the cities there only remaining six hundred men that fled away.26.

1. Then all the children of Israel [excepting the Benjamites see verse 12,13 &c.]] went out and the congregation gathered themselves together as one man [that is with special unanimity and willingness and disquieted or troubled at all so below verse 8,11 and 1Samuel 11.7 2 Samuel 19:14 Ezra 3:1 Nehemiah 8:7 &c.] from Dan even to Beersheba [the city of Dan was the northern 1 Kings 4 on verse 25] also the land of Gilead [that is the Israelites that dwealt there in the east beyond Jordan to wit Reuben Gad and the half tribe of Mannasseh see Numbers chapter 32] unto the Lord [to pray unto him and besides to ask counsel at Silo] at Mizpa [lying in Benjamin Joshua 18:26 westwards from Silo as the map also sheweth a place fit for a solemn assembly as being strong according to the length lying in the midst off Canaan see1samuel 7 on verse 5,16 & 10.17 &c. 2Kings 25.222 &c. Jeremiah 40:7 &c. & 41.1 &c. some are of opinion that here at special place was appointed for public prayers and exercise of piety as synagogue and dyers more have been although the ceremonial worship of offering sacrifices &c. were to be done at Silo where the tabernacle and the ark compare other places bearing the same name see above chapter 10 on verse 17.]

2. And from the corners of all the people [that is from all even the uttermost quarters others all the heads of the people meaning that those are called of the people by way of similitude as being the chiefest and firmness or strength of the people as the corners of a house] did all the tribe of Israel present themselves in the assemble of the people of God four hundred thousand man on foot that drew sword [see above chapter 8 on verse 10.]

3. Now the children of Benjamin heard [but appeared not also at MiPad] that the children of Israel were gone up to MiPad and the children of Israel said [meaning the Levites whose concubines was abused even to death and who was here present as also question less his servant that was with him at that time when he was so abused] speak how was this wickedness done ? [they will not resolve nor attempt anything without first searching and sifting out the matter.]

4. Then answered the Levitish man [that is having leave granted him to speak he uttered and related the whole business see chapter 18 on verse 14] the husband of the woman [although the woman was his concubine yet were they accounted lawful man and wife see chapter 19 on verse 2] that was killed [that is so abused that she died of it as is related in the following words] and said I came with my concubines unto Gibea which is Benjamin’s to overnight.

5. And the citizens of Gibea rose up against me and beset the house round against me [to abuse me abominable] by night they thought to have killed me [viz. if I have would have not yielded to their abominable wickedness and had rather die then do so] and my concubines have they forced that she is dead.

6. Then I took my concubines and divided her [into twelve pieces above chapter 19.29] and sent her into all the land of inheritance of Israel because they [that is those of Gibea] had committed a leud act and folly [see Genesis 34 on verse 7so below verse 1] in Israel.

7. Behold ye all children of Israel [whom as being Gods people in covenant in no ways besitteth such horrible wickedness to go unpunished.] give here for yourselves words and counsel.

8. Then all the people arose as one man saying we will not go [meaning unless we shall first have acted that which is related in the following words] every man to his rent nor turn every man into his house.

9. But now this is the thing which we will do unto Gibea against her by Lot[to cast lots who shall victual the camp and who shall fight .]

10. And we will take ten men of an hundred out of all the tribes and a hundred of a thousand and thousand of a ten thousand to fetch victual for the people [which shall fight] to Gab of Benjamin[in the former verse and so continually in the history that is called Gibea of Benjamin] they may do unto it [viz. to the inhabitants of Gibea]according to all the folly which it hath committed in Israel [that disaccording to their desert.]

11. So all man of Israel were gathered against this city combined together [Heb. Companioned accompanied joined together] as one man.

12. And the tribes of Israel sent men through all tribe of Benjamin [Heb. throughout all the tribes that is the thousand into which the tribe of Benjamin as others was divided] saying what wickedness is this that is done among ye?

13. Now therefore deliver in those men [who are guilty of his abomination]those children of Belial[as above chapter 19.22 see Deuteronomy 13 on verse 13] which are at Gibea that we may put them to death and put away evil from Israel but the children of Benjamin will not hearken to the voice of Israel [making themselves thus guilty of that horrible fact of the inhabitants of Gibea.]

14. But the children of Benjamin gathered together out of the city unto Gibea to go forth to battle against the children of Israel.

15. And the children of Benjamin were that day numbered out of the cities six and twenty thousand men [of this number were slain five and twenty thousand an done hundred verse35 the nine hundred were perhaps left to possess the cities to abide by the baggage and to victual the camp these after the fight were all slain in the cities verse 48 six hundred fewer than those of Gibea only excepting the rest set out escaped and remained alive verse 47,46] besides that the inhabitants of Gibea were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

16. Among all the people were seven hundred chosen men which were left handed [Heb. locked up on their right hand or whose right hand was locked up see above chapter 3 on verse 15.] all these [or every one of these]slung with a stone at an hair breadth that they missed not [Heb. and caused not the same to miss or fail to go astray even from hitting an hair here in the Hebrew text is the word used which signifieth every where to sin or cause t sin because sin is a missing failing or straying from the law of God when anything agreeth not therewith or as the apostle John saith in the 1Epistle chapter 3 verse 4 is unlawness or unlawfulness compare Job 5 on verse 24.]

17. And the men of Israel were numbered besides Benjamin four hundred thousand men that drew sword all these were man of war.

18. And the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God [which was at Silo eastward of Mizpa and nor far distant from Gibea see above chapter 19 on verse 18 Heb. Beth-el that is the house of God see below on verse 26] and asked counsel of God [see above chapter 1 on verse 1] and said [not being troubled about the justness of this war nor about the victory which not withstanding they though much stronger then Benjamin were to desire and expect from God they only ask counsel concerning the ordering of the battle wherein they seem not to have agreed so well together compare above chapter 1.1] who among us shall go up first.

19. So the children of Israel rose up in the morning and camped themselves against Gibea.

20. And the men of Israel went up to battle against Benjamin moreover the men of Israel ordered the battle [that is they put themselves in order to fight or put themselves to battle array]against them by Gilead.

21. Then the children of Benjamin went forth from Gibea and they destroyed [Heb. spoiled so below verse 25,35,42 the Hebrew word tendeth to the aggravaton of slaying if one should say as if one should say utterly and totally ruin destroy see Ezekiel 9:6,8] to the ground of Israel on that day two and twenty thousand men.

22. But the people to wit the men of Israel strengthen themselves [that is they took courage and recruited themselves notwithstanding this slaughter] and they are ordered by the battle again [Heb. they proceeded or added to order the battle] at the place where they had ordered the same the day before.

23. And the children of Israel went up and wept before the face of the Lord [viz. that of the congregation where the ark of the covenant which was a visible token of Gods presence and favor was see below verse 16,27 & Leviticus 1 on verse 3] until the evening and asked counsel of the Lord saying I shall [viz. Israel so below verse 28]again draw nigh [Heb. shall I add or proceed to draw nigh] to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother ? [it seemeth that they in regard of the slaughter they had sustained doubted whether it were pleasing to God that they should thus fight against their brethren without asking counsel concerning the event of the battle or victory] and the Lord said go up against him.

24. So the children of Israel drew neer to the children of Benjamin the second day.

25. And those of Benjamin of Benjamin went forth to meet them out of Gibea the second day and felled [Heb. spoiled]down to the ground of the children of Israel yet eighteen thousand men all those drew the sword [that is all these were man of war see verse 17 and 15.]

26. Then all the children of Israel and all the people went up and came to the house of God [Heb. Beth-el that is Gods house as is rendered by the most translators in this history this is also the name of the famous place Beth-el see Genesis 18:14 and because in the following verse its said that there was the ark of the covenant at that time some gather from thence that is was at Bethel and not at silo no where mentioned in this history but only below chapter 21.12,19,21because the particle there seemeth not to agree so well if there had been no place before named but Beth-el was so far distant eastward from Gibea as the best maps tell us that the people could not easily go thither and come back again in so short time but Silo was close by Gibea the attentive reader will be able to judge hereof see above chapter 19 on verse 18and below chapter 21.12] and wept and tarried there before the face of the Lord.

27. And the children of Israel asked counsel of the LORD for these[viz. In the house of God at Silo: others understand Bethel: see the annotate. On the former verse] was the Ark of the Covenant of God in those days.

28. And Pinehas, [See above chapter 17 v.1] the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron stood [i.e. ministered as High Priest, see Deuteronomy 10:8 & 18.5, & c.] before his face[viz. the Lords, or, before it, to wit, the Ark on the Covenant] in those days, saying: Shall I yet any more go forth, Heb. shall I (namely Israel.) yet, or hence forth added, or procced to so forth] to battle against the children of Benjamin, my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up, for tomorrow will I deliver him[viz. Benjamin into thine hand.

29. Then Israel set liars in wait round about Gibea.

30. And the children of Israel went up on the third day, against the children of Benjamin: and thy ordered (the battle) against Gibea, as at other times.

31. Then the children of Benjamin went out, to meet the people, [viz. Israel] (and) were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, (and) to stab, [Heb. stabbed, or stabbing, or wounded to death, or were killed] as at other times, in the streets, whereof the one goeth up to the house of God,[or, Beth-l] and the other to Gibea, in the field about thirty men of Israel.

32. Then said the children of Benjamin; They are beaten before our face, is formerly; but the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw him[To wit:, Benjamin] away from the city unto the streets.

33. Then all the men of Israel rose up out of their places, and ordered (the battle)at Baal-I’bamar:[Lying West-ward of Gibea, as the Maps shew] also Israels ambush brake forth out of their place after the making; bare [i.e. after the city was bereft, or made bare of the soldiers, that now were drawn away from it, oth,out-of the medow; , pastures] of Geba, [i.e. Fibea, as above v.10]

34. An (ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel came, from over against Gibea, [To step in between the city and the soldiery, to the end, they might not get into the city again] and the battle waxed heavy: but they [viz. those of Benjamin] knew not, that the evil would hit them [or, would over take them, or, that the evil were near at hand, or, approaching: so below verse.41.]

35. Then the LORD smote Benjamin before the face of Israel, that the children of Israel destroyed [Hebrew. Spoiled: As below v.21,25. How this happened, is particularly mentioned in the following words] of Benjamin that day five and twenty thousand, and an hundred men: all those drew the sword. [See chapter.8. on v.10. and above v.7. and below v.46.]

36. And the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted to the ambush, which they had placed against Gibea.

37. And the ambush hasted, and brakes forwards [Or, fell on, broke thorow] upon Gibea: yea the ambush drew right thorough, [or, drew, viz. the people that were hard by to them, to press thorough into the city. Compare above chapter, 4. On v.6. Otherwise, made a drawing sound, blew with along breath, drawing, viz. with the Trumpet, as Exodus.19.13. Josua.6.5.] and smote all the city, [i.e. all that were found in the city] with the edge of the sword. [Hebrew. At the mouth of the sword.]

38. And the men of Israel had an appointed time with the ambush: when they should cause a great rising up of smoke to rise up out of the city. [Hebrew. Should multiply a lifting up of smoke to cause it to rise up from the city: That then those of Israel should wheel about, and fall upon the Benjamites, for it should be a token that the city was taken.]

39. So the men of Israel turned themselves about in the battle: [As fleeing men, or fugitives, to draw those of Benjamin off from the city: as was related above verse.31.] and Benjamin had begun to smite, (and) to stab [Hebrew. stabbed; as v.31.] of the men of Israel, about thirty men, for they [viz. those of Benjamin] said; indeed be [to wit, Israel] is certainly smitten [Hebrew. being smitten, he is smitten] before our face, as in the former battle.

40. Then the lifting up [Whereof above v.38.] began to rise up out of the city, (as) a piller of smoke: now when Benjamin looked behind him, behold the burning of the city, [Hebrew. the whole consumption, i.e. the burning, whereby the whole city was consumed] ascended up to heaven. [i.e. into the air, or skies.]

41. And the men of Israel turned themselves about, and the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that the evil would hit them. [as above v.34.]

42. Therefore they turned themselves before the face of the men of Israel toward the wilderness; but the fight [i.e. the fighters] clave unto them, [i.e. nevertheless overtook them, hit them, as v.45.] and those out of the cities, destroyed them in the midst of them. [Hebrew. spoiled them in their middle: i.e. then round about on all sides, they smote them, as followeth]

43. They beset Benjamin [i.e. The men of Benjamin; or the Benjamites] round about, they pursued him, they trod him down easily. [Hebrew. (in, or, with) rest: i.e. without much trouble or pains. Some take it for the name of a place, called Menu, or Menucha] until before Gibea toward the Sun-rising. [Hence some do gather, that they was yet another Gibea, lying Eastward from Gibea, or Geba, continually mentioned in this history; as the maps also do place both these cities, calling the one Gibea, or Geba, and the other (which is also called Gibea) Gibeath, or Gabaath.]

44. And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men: all these were men of war.

45. Then they turned themselves, and fled towards the wilderness, unto the rock of Rimmon; [A city lying upon a rock between Bethel and Gibea, on the Southern borders of Benjamin] but they made gearing among them on the street, [Hebrew. they gleaned him (i.e. Benjamin) in the streets: i.e. they smote them here and there by parties, as they are wont to glean the remaining grapes in the vintage, and at last to cut them off that nothing might remain: see above chapter.8.2] of five thousand men: besides, they clave close to them behind, [i.e. they followed or pursued them close upon the heels, gave them no breathing time, no rest, or time to escape or flee away] unto Gideon, and smote of them two thousand men.

46. So all that fell that day of Benjamin, were five and twenty thousand men, [In this number, are (according to the customer of the Scripture) left out the hundred (whereof above v. 35.) because of the wardens or completeness of the number. Compare above chapter 11. On verse 26.] that drew sword, all those were men of war.

47. But six hundred men turned themselves, and fled toward the wilderness, unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.

48. And the men of Israel turned again unto the children of Benjamin, [viz. which remained in the cities] and smote with the edge of the sword, [Hebrew. at the mouth of the sword] those of the whole city [Hebrew of the city of wholeness: compare Psalm.38.4.] even to the Breasts, [othertwise, from the men of the city, to the very beasts] yea all that was found; also they set [Hebrew. sent: as above chapter1.8.] all the cities that were found on fire.