Judg 20:1, 2Sa 17:11, 24:2, 1Ki 4:25 | TSK | STEP | The Levite in a general assembly declares his wrong. The decree of the assembly. The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites. The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand. They destroy by a stratagem all the Benjamites, except six hundred. Then all. as one man. from Dan. with the. unto the. in Mizpeh. It does not appear that the Israelites on this occasion, were summoned by the authority of any one common head, but they came together by the consent and agreement, as it were, of one common heart, fired with a holy zeal for the honour of God and Israel. The place of their meeting was Mizpeh; they gathered together unto the Lord there; for Mizpeh was so very near to Shiloh, that their encampment might very well be supposed to reach from Mizpeh to Shiloh. Shiloh was a small town, and therefore, when there was a general meeting of the people to present themselves before God, they chose Mizpeh for their head quarters, which was the next adjoining city of note; perhaps, because they were not willing to give that trouble to Shiloh, which so great an assembly would occasion; it being the residence of the priests that attended the tabernacle.

Judges 20:1

1 The Levite in a general assembly declares his wrong.

8 The decree of the assembly.

12 The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites.

18 The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand.

26 They destroy by a stratagem all the Benjamites, except six hundred.

Then all.

2,8,11; 21:5; De 13:12-18; Jos 22:12

as one man.

1Sa 11:7,8; 2Sa 19:14; Ezr 3:1; Ne 8:1

from Dan.

18:29; 1Sa 3:20; 2Sa 3:10; 24:2; 1Ch 21:2; 2Ch 30:5

with the.

Nu 32:1,40; Jos 17:1; 2Sa 2:9

unto the.

18,26; 11:11

in Mizpeh.

10:17; 11:11; Jos 15:38; 18:26; 1Sa 7:5,6; 10:17; 2Ki 25:23It does not appear that the Israelites on this occasion, were summoned by the authority of any one common head, but they came together by the consent and agreement, as it were, of one common heart, fired with a holy zeal for the honour of God and Israel. The place of their meeting was Mizpeh; they gathered together unto the Lord there; for Mizpeh was so very near to Shiloh, that their encampment might very well be supposed to reach from Mizpeh to Shiloh. Shiloh was a small town, and therefore, when there was a general meeting of the people to present themselves before God, they chose Mizpeh for their head quarters, which was the next adjoining city of note; perhaps, because they were not willing to give that trouble to Shiloh, which so great an assembly would occasion; it being the residence of the priests that attended the tabernacle.

2 Samuel 17:11

all Israel.

24:2; Jud 20:1

as the sand.

Ge 13:16; 22:17; Jos 11:4; 1Ki 4:20; 20:10

thou go. Heb. they face, or presence, go, etc. in thine.

12:28; Ps 7:15,16; 9:16

2 Samuel 24:2

Joab.

2:13; 8:16; 20:23; 23:37

Go now, etc. or, Compass now all.

1Ch 21:2

from Dan.

3:10; 17:11; Jud 20:1

and number.We know not in what the sinfulness of this action consisted. Some think it was a contempt of the promise that the Israelites should be innumerable, and that they ought not to have been numbered without an express command, as in the days of Moses. Others suppose with Josephus that it was a kind of sacrilege, in omitting to collect the half-shekel a-piece for the use of the sanctuary. It however would appear that pride and ambition, and a desire of conquest, induced David to this measure, and rendered it so displeasing to God.

that I may.

De 8:13,14; 2Ch 32:25,26,31; Pr 29:23; Jer 17:5; 2Co 12:7

1 Kings 4:25

safely. Heb. confidently.

Isa 60:18; Jer 23:5,6; 33:15,16; Eze 38:11; *marg:

every man.

2Ki 18:31; Mic 4:4; Zec 3:10

from Dan.

Jud 20:1; 2Sa 17:11; 24:15