Judges 20:45-47

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 20:45

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

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 20:45

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 20:46

In Judges 20:35 the number given is 25,100. Judges 20:44-46 give the details of the loss on that day: 18,000, 5,000, and 2,000; in all 25,000. But as the Benjamites numbered 26,700 men Judges 20:15, and 600 escaped to the rock of Rimmon, it is clear that 1,100 are unaccounted for, partly from no account being taken of those who fell in the battles of the two first days, partly from the use of round numbers, or from some other cause. The numbers given both here and in Judges 20:35 are expressly... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 20:44-45

Judges 20:44-45. There fell eighteen thousand Namely, in the field of battle. They gleaned of them five thousand A metaphor from those who gather grapes or corn so cleanly and fully that they leave no relics for those who come after them. The Benjamites could not flee in a body, but scattered up and down the highways, where the Israelites picked up five thousand more and slew them. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 20:46

Judges 20:46. Twenty and five thousand Besides the odd hundred expressed Judges 20:35; but here only the great number is mentioned, the less being omitted, as inconsiderable. Here are also a thousand more omitted, because he speaks only of them who fell in that third day of battle. 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

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