Shofetim 20:21

21 And the Bnei Binyamin came forth out of Giv’ah, and cut down to the ground that day in Yisroel twenty and two thousand men.

Shofetim 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 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

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

Shofetim 20:21 In-Context

19 And the Bnei Yisroel rose up in the boker, and encamped against Giv’ah.

20 And the Ish Yisroel went out to battle against Binyamin; and the Ish Yisroel put themselves in array to fight against them at Giv’ah.

21 And the Bnei Binyamin came forth out of Giv’ah, and cut down to the ground that day in Yisroel twenty and two thousand men.

22 And the HaAm Ish Yisroel took courage, and formed their battle line again in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.

23 (And the Bnei Yisroel went up and wept before Hashem until erev, and asked counsel of Hashem, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the Bnei Binyamin achi? And Hashem said, Go up against him.)