17 And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 20:17

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.