Richter 20:21

21 Da fielen die Kinder Benjamin heraus aus Gibea und schlugen des Tages unter Israel zweiundzwanzigtausend zu Boden.

Richter 20:21 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 20:21

And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah
Which was their place of rendezvous, and which they came to defend; and in and about which they had stationed their whole army of 26,000 men:

and destroyed down to the ground:
killed dead upon the spot:

of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men;
wanting but 4000 of their whole number, excepting the men of Gibeah, which was such a rebuff the Israelites did not expect, being engaged in so just a cause, and having such a numerous army. Several Jewish, writers ^F17 think this was on account of their idolatry, that though they were very zealous to revenge corporeal adultery in the case of the Levite's concubine, and to remove such iniquity from Israel; yet were not zealous to revenge and put away spiritual adultery or idolatry in the case of the Danites, who had set up the image of Micah, and so had spread idolatry not only in their own tribe, but throughout Israel; and therefore God took this opportunity to avenge his own quarrel, and rebuke them for their sin; and now did Benjamin raven as a wolf, according to Jacob's prophecy, ( Genesis 49:27 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 103. 2. Pirke Eliezer, c. 28. Jarchi & Kimchi in loc.

Richter 20:21 In-Context

19 Also machten sich die Kinder Israel des Morgens auf und lagerten sich vor Gibea.

20 Und ein jeder Mann von Israel ging heraus, zu streiten mit Benjamin, und schickten sich, zu streiten wider Gibea.

21 Da fielen die Kinder Benjamin heraus aus Gibea und schlugen des Tages unter Israel zweiundzwanzigtausend zu Boden.

22 Aber das Volk der Männer von Israel ermannte sich und stellte sich auf, noch weiter zu streiten am selben Ort, da sie sich des vorigen Tages gestellt hatten.

23 Und die Kinder Israel zogen hinauf und weinten vor dem HERRN bis an den Abend und fragten den HERRN und sprachen: Sollen wir wieder nahen, zu streiten mit den Kindern Benjamin, unsern Brüdern? Der HERR sprach: Zieht hinauf zu ihnen!