Judg 20:17-48 | TSK | STEP

And the.It seems most evident that the Israelites did not seek the protection of God. When they "went to the house of God," (ver. 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.

21; Ge 18:25; Job 9:12,13; Ps 97:2; Ro 2:5; 3:5; 11:33

all the children.

18,23

wept.

1Sa 7:6; 2Ch 20:3; Ezr 8:21; 9:4,5; Joe 1:14; 2:12-18; Jon 3:5-10

enquired.

18,23; Nu 27:21

the ark.

Jos 18:1; 1Sa 4:3,4; Ps 78:60,61; Jer 7:12The 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.

Nu 25:7-13; Jos 22:13,30-32; 24:33

stood.

De 10:8; 18:5

Shall I yet.

Jos 7:7; 1Sa 14:37; 23:4-12; 30:8; 2Sa 5:19-24; 6:3,7-12; Pr 3:5,6

Jer 10:23

Go up.

1:2; 7:9; 2Ch 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.

34; Jos 8:4; 2Sa 5:23

drawn.

Jos 8:14-16

smite of the people, and kill, as at. Heb. smite of thepeople wounded as at, etc. the house of God. or, Beth-el. Gibeah.

19:13,14; Isa 10:29

thirty.

Jos 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.

Jos 8:15,16

rose up.

Jos 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.

knew not.

Jos 8:14; Job 21:13; Pr 4:19; 29:6; Ec 8:11,12; 9:12; Isa 3:10,11

Isa 47:11; Mt 24:44; Lu 21:34; 21:34; 1Th 5:3

twenty.

15,44-46; Job 20:5Though 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 man.

Jos 8:15-29

the liers in wait hasted.

Jos 8:19

drew themselves along. or, made a long sound with thetrumpets.

Ex 19:13; Jos 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.

Ge 17:21; 2Ki 4:16; *marg:

and. Heb. with. flame. Heb. elevation.

And when.

smite and kill. Heb. smite the wounded.

a pillar.

Ge 19:28; So 3:6; Joe 2:30; Re 19:3

looked.

Jos 8:20

flame. Heb. whole consumption.

were amazed.

Ex 15:9,10; Isa 13:8,9; 33:14; Lu 17:27,28; 21:26; 1Th 5:3

2Pe 2:12; Re 6:15-17; 18:8-10

was come upon them. Heb. touched them.

the battle.

La 1:3; Ho 9:9; 10:9

inclosed.

Jos 8:20-22

with ease. or, from Menuchah, etc. over against. Heb. untoover against.

Rimmon.

Jos 15:32; 1Ch 6:77; Zec 14:10

twenty.

15,35

six hundred.

21:13; Ps 103:9,10; Isa 1:9; Jer 14:7; La 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. De La 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.

De 13:15-17; 2Ch 25:13; 28:6-9; Pr 18:19

came to hand. Heb. was found. they came to. Heb. werefound.