Judges 20:32

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 20:32

And the children of Benjamin said, they are smitten down before us, as at first ,.... At the first battle, which gave them great spirit, and they concluded they should have victory, as before: but the children of Israel said, let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways ; pretending to be afraid of them, and not able to face them, and therefore made as if they fled through fear and cowardice, which inspired the Benjaminites with fresh ardour to pursue them closely, and so... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:32

Let us - draw them from the city - They had two reasons for this: They had placed an ambuscade behind Gibeah, which was to enter and burn the city as soon as the Benjamites had left it. 2. It would seem that the slingers, by being within the city and its fortifications, had great advantage against the Israelites by their slings, whom they could not annoy with their swords, unless they got them to the plain country. 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 20:29-48

The Israelites’ final victory 20:29-48Judges 20:29-36 a give an overview of the battle, and Judges 20:36-48 provide a more detailed explanation. Israel’s strategy was similar to what God had specified against Ai (Joshua 8:1-29) and what Abimelech used against Shechem (Judges 9:33-44).The location of Baal-tamar is unknown (Judges 20:33), but Marreh-geba was evidently Geba, which stood a few miles northeast of Gibeah. Rimmon (pomegranate, Judges 20:45) was farther to the north and east of Bethel.... 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 20:32

(32) Said, Let us flee.—In a later historical style the plan of the feigned flight would have been mentioned earlier.Unto the highways.—This would have the double effect of allowing the ambuscade to cut off their retreat, and of dividing their forces at the point where the roads branched off. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Judges 20:1-48

Judges 20:48 'Humanity, or mercy, is certainly not the strong point of Achaian Greeks. With them not only no sacredness, but little value, attached to human life; and the loss of it stirs no sympathy unless it be associated with beauty, valour, patriotism, or other esteemed characteristics. Yet here, again, the forms of evil are less extreme. We do not find, even in the stern, relentless vengeance of Odysseus on his enemies, or in the passionate wish of Achilles that nature would permit what it... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Judges 20:1-48

; Judges 20:1-48; Judges 21:1-25FROM JUSTICE TO WILD REVENGEJudges 19:1-30; Judges 20:1-48; Judges 21:1-25THESE last chapters describe a general and vehement outburst of moral indignation throughout Israel, recorded for various reasons. A vile thing is done in one of the towns of Benjamin and the fact is published in all the tribes. The doers of it are defended by their clan and fearful punishment is wrought upon them, not without suffering to the entire people. Like the incidents narrated in... read more

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