201 Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba , including the land of Gilead , came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at Mizpah . 2 The chiefs of all the people , even of all the tribes of Israel , took their stand in the assembly of the people of God , 400,000 e e foot soldiers who drew the sword . 3 (Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah .) And the sons of Israel said , "Tell us, how did this wickedness take place ?" 4 So the Levite , the husband of the woman who was murdered , answered and said , "I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin . 5 "But the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me; instead, they ravished my concubine so that she died . 6 "And I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout the land of Israel's inheritance ; for they have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel . 7 "Behold , all you sons of Israel , give your advice and counsel here ." 8 Then all the people arose as one man , saying , "Not one of us will go to his tent , nor will any of us return to his house . 9 "But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah ; we will go up against it by lot . 10 "And we will take 10 men out of 100 throughout the tribes of Israel , and 100 out of 1,000 , and 1,000 out of 10,000 e to supply food for the people , that when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin , they may punish them for all the disgraceful acts that they have committed in Israel ." 11 Thus all the men of Israel were gathered against the city , united as one man .
12 Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire tribe of Benjamin , saying , "What is this wickedness that has taken place among you? 13 "Now then, deliver up the men , the worthless fellows in Gibeah , that we may put them to death and remove this wickedness from Israel ." But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers , the sons of Israel . 14 The sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah , to go out to battle against the sons of Israel . 15 From the cities on that day the sons of Benjamin were numbered , 26,000 e men who draw the sword , besides e the inhabitants of Gibeah who were numbered , 700 e choice men . 16 Out of all these people 700 e choice men were left-handed e e ; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss . 17 Then the men of Israel besides e Benjamin were numbered , 400,000 e e men who draw the sword ; all these were men of war .
18 Now the sons of Israel arose , went up to Bethel , and inquired of God and said , "Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin ?" Then the Lord said , "Judah shall go up first ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 20:1-18
Chapter Contents
The tribe of Benjamin nearly extirpated.
The Israelites' abhorrence of the crime committed at Gibeah, and their resolution to punish the criminals, were right; but they formed their resolves with too much haste and self-confidence. The eternal ruin of souls will be worse, and more fearful, than these desolations of a tribe.