Judges 20:43-48

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 20:43

Thus they enclosed the Benjaminites round about ,.... Surrounded them on all sides, the army of Israel being posted in different places, and people coming out of all the cities to their assistance. Josephus F1 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 10.) says, they were forced into, and cooped up, in a hollow place in a valley, so that they could not escape: and chased them ; or "caused to pursue" F2 הרדיפהו "persequi fecerunt eum", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; "vel eos",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:44

And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men ,.... Just the number they had slain of Israel in the second battle. This is the number of them that were slain when Israel turned upon them, and by that time they got to the east of Gibeah; afterwards 5000 more were slain on the highways, and 2000 near Gidom, as after related: all these were men of valour ; as appears by three times facing and engaging with the army of Israel, so vastly superior to them, and twice beating them. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:45

And they turned and fled toward the wilderness, unto the rock of Rimmon ,.... Which signifies pomegranate; perhaps it was in the form of one, and may be the same as in 1 Samuel 14:2 where Saul is said to be under a pomegranate tree, or under Rimmon, the rock Rimmon, for that is said to be near Gibeah, as this was. There was a village in the times of Jerom called Remmon, fifteen miles from Jerusalem to the north F3 De loc. Heb. fol. 94. B. , but could not be near this rock to have its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:46

So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and thousand men ,.... It is before said 25,100 Judges 20:35 here the one hundred are omitted, and the round number of thousands given, which is no unusual way of speaking and writing; the whole army of Benjamin consisted of 26,700 of which 18,000 were slain in the field of battle, 5000 in the highways, and 2000 at Gidom, in all 25,000; and we may suppose one hundred as they were straggling in the road, or found in by places, or are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:47

But six hundred men ,.... Who were all that were left of 26,700 turned and fled to the wilderness ; turned out of the highway or common road, and being swift of foot, got to a wilderness; what wilderness is not certain: unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months ; very probably in a cave of that rock, which might be large enough to hold such a number; Saul is said to have just the same number under it, and David had also a like number in a cave at Engedi, 1... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:48

And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin ,.... After they had destroyed their army, the city of Gibeah, and the inhabitants of it: not content with this, in their wrath and fury, turned and went: and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city ; even men, women, and children, in every city of Benjamin, at least all that lay in their way; and which they might do to be avenged on them, for sending out their militia against them, which had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:45

Unto the rock of Rimmon - This was some strong place, but where situated is not known. Here they maintained themselves four months, and it was by these alone that the tribe of Benjamin was preserved from utter extermination. See the following chapter, Judges 21 (note). It is scarcely possible to imagine any thing more horrid than the indiscriminate and relentless slaughter of both innocent and guilty mentioned in this chapter. The crime of the men of Gibeah was great, but there was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 20:43

The language and construction of this verse is poetical; it seems to be an extract from a song, and to describe, in the language of poetry, the same event which the preceding verse described in that of prose.With ease - Or “rest” Numbers 10:33; Psalms 95:11. The expression is very obscure. The margin takes it as the name of a place. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 20:45

Rimmon - A village named “Rummon”, situated on the summit of a conical chalky hill, still exists, and forms a remarkable object in the landscape, visible in all directions. It lies 15 miles north of Jerusalem. It is a different place from Rimmon in the south of Judah Joshua 15:32, and Remmon in Zebulon Joshua 19:13. Gidom, mentioned nowhere else, was evidently close to Rimmon. read more

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