201 And all the sons of Israel go out, and the company is assembled as one man, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, and the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah, at Mizpeh. 2 And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, station themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen drawing sword. 3 And the sons of Benjamin hear that the sons of Israel have gone up to Mizpeh. And the sons of Israel say, 'Speak ye, how hath this evil been?' 4 And the man, the Levite, husband of the woman who hath been murdered, answereth and saith, 'Into Gibeah (which 'is' to Benjamin) I have come, I and my concubine, to lodge; 5 and rise against me do the masters of Gibeah—and they go round the house against me by night—me they thought to slay, and my concubine they have humbled, and she dieth; 6 and I lay hold on my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and send her into all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have done wickedness and folly in Israel; 7 lo, ye 'are' all sons of Israel; give for you a word and counsel here.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 20:1-7
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.