Judges 20:26 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 20:26-48

We have here a full account of the complete victory which the Israelites obtained over the Benjamites in the third engagement: the righteous cause was victorious at last, when the managers of it amended what had been amiss; for, when a good cause suffers, it is for want of good management. Observe then how the victory was obtained, and how it was pursued. I. How the victory was obtained. Two things they had trusted too much to in the former engagements?the goodness of their cause and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:26

Then all the children of Israel and all the people went up, and came unto the house of God ,.... This looks as if the whole body of the army, with other people from parts adjacent, went up to the tabernacle of God in Shiloh: and wept and sat there before the Lord ; not only wept, but continued weeping, and that not merely for their defeat, but for their sins, since it follows: and fasted that day until even ; afflicted their bodies with fasting, which was a token of the humiliation... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:26

And wept - Had they humbled themselves, fasted, and prayed, and offered sacrifices at first, they had not been discomfited. And fasted that day until even - This is the first place where fasting is mentioned as a religious ceremony, or as a means of obtaining help from God. And in this case, and many since, it has been powerfully effectual. At present it is but little used; a strong proof that self-denial is wearing out of fashion. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 20:26

Fasted until even - The regular time for ending a fast among the Hebrews was sunset (compare 1 Samuel 14:24; 2 Samuel 1:12). Such national fasts are called by the rabbis “fasts of the congregation,” and were enjoined in times of great affliction.On the offerings, see Lev. i., 3. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 20:26

Judges 20:26. All the people went up Not only all the warriors, but other people. And wept, and sat before the Lord Sensible of their not having been before truly humbled for their sins, which they seem now to discover to have been the cause of their ill success. And fasted that day until even That they might afflict their souls, and become truly penitent. This they had not done before, at least not with such seriousness as they now did. And offered burnt-offerings To make atonement... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 20:1-48

The war with Benjamin (19:1-21:25)A Levite whose concubine had run away from him came to Judah looking for her. When they were reunited, her father was so pleased he did not want them to leave. They therefore stayed with him a few days, then set out to return to the Levite’s home in Ephraim (19:1-9).The route back to Ephraim took the couple through the tribal territory of Benjamin. Looking for somewhere to sleep the night, they preferred not to stay in Jerusalem, which was inhabited by... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 20:1-48

2. The civil war in Israel ch. 20This chapter continues the story begun in chapter 19. The emphasis in chapter 19 was on moral degeneracy and that of chapter 20 is Israel’s political disorganization. One man’s sin in chapter 19 resulted in over 65,000 deaths in chapter 20 (cf. Joshua 7). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 20:20-28

The Israelites’ initial defeats 20:20-28The Lord granted the Benjamites success to discipline the other Israelites for their independence, not because He approved of the Benjamites’ actions. The Benjamites became God’s temporary instrument to discipline the other tribes, as God also used Israel’s foreign foes (the Canaanites, Midianites, Philistines, et al., and later the Assyrians and Babylonians)."The congregation now discovered, from this repeated defeat, that the Lord had withdrawn His... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:1-48

The Slaughter of the BenjamitesThe Levite recounts his wrongs to a full assemblage of the tribes, who decree punishment upon Benjamin. Their first two attacks are unsuccessful, but the third results in the almost total extermination of the Benjamites.1-11. The Israelites assemble at Gibeah.1. Congregation] This word is only used in the later books of the OT. after Israel had ceased at the exile to be a nation: see intro. Judges 19). Dan] see on Judges 18:29. Beer-sheba] the southernmost point... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 20:26

(26) And all the people—i.e., the non-combatants as well as the fighting men.Unto the house of God.—Rather, to Bethel, as in Judges 20:18.And wept.—These two battles must have caused an almost universal bereavement. (Comp. Lamentations 2:10; Psalms 137:1; Joel 1:8-14; Joel 2:12-17, &c.)Fasted . . . until even.—As is still common in the East. (Comp. 1 Samuel 14:24, &c.)Burnt offerings and peace offerings.—The former were burnt entire, and therefore could not be used for food; of the... read more