36 So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated . When the men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah ,

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 20:36

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.