Judges 20:13

13 Now hand over those worthless men in Gibeah. We must put them to death to rid ourselves of this kind of evil in Israel." But the men of Benjamin refused to listen to the men of Israel.

Judges 20:13 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 20:13

Now, therefore, deliver us the men, the children of Belial,
which are in Gibeah
Those wicked men that were the authors of that abominable wickedness there committed:

that we may put them to death;
as they deserved, since they were guilty both of adultery and murder; their meaning is, that they in conjunction with the tribe of Benjamin might condemn them to death and punish them with it, as their crime deserved:

and put away evil from Israel;
prevent both the spread of such a sinful evil in the nation, encouraged by such examples, and the evil of punishment coming upon them from God, should they let such wickedness pass with impunity:

but the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their
brethren the children of Israel;
they refused to give up the men of Gibeah, that had been guilty of such great wickedness; reckoning it a reproach, as Josephus ^F6 says, to obey the commands of others, for fear of war, and unwilling to yield to any in arms, neither on account of multitude nor courage.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 9.

Judges 20:13 In-Context

11 So all the men of Israel assembled. They stood united against the city.

12 The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin. They asked, "How could such an evil thing happen among you?

13 Now hand over those worthless men in Gibeah. We must put them to death to rid ourselves of this kind of evil in Israel." But the men of Benjamin refused to listen to the men of Israel.

14 So the men of Benjamin went from their towns and assembled at Gibeah to go to war with the men of Israel.

15 That day 26,000 men armed with swords came from Benjamin's cities and organized for battle along with 700 of Gibeah's best men.