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Commentary on Judges 20 verses 26–48
We have here a full account of the complete victory which the Israelites obtained over the Benjamites in the third engagement: the righteous cause was victorious at last, when the managers of it amended what had been amiss; for, when a good cause suffers, it is for want of good management. Observe then how the victory was obtained, and how it was pursued.
I. How the victory was obtained. Two things they had trusted too much to in the former engagements - the goodness of their cause and the superiority of their numbers. It was true that they had both right and strength on their side, which were great advantages; but they depended too much upon them, to the neglect of those duties to which now, this third time, when they see their error, they apply themselves.
1.They were previously so confident of the goodness of their cause that they thought it needless to address themselves to God for his presence and blessing. They took it for granted that God would bless them, nay, perhaps they concluded that he owed them his favour, and could not in justice withhold it, since it was in defence of virtue that they appeared and took up arms. But God having shown them that he was under no obligation to prosper their enterprise, that he neither needed them nor was tied to them, that they were more indebted to him for the honour of being ministers of his justice than he to them for the service, now they became humble petitioners for success. Before they only consulted God's oracle, Who shall go up first? And, Shall we go up? But now they implored his favour, fasted and prayed, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings (Jdg 20:26), to make an atonement for sin and an acknowledgment of their dependence upon God, and as an expression of their desire towards him. We cannot expect the presence of God with us, unless we thus seek it in the way he has appointed. And when they were in this frame, and thus sought the Lord, then he not only ordered them to go up against the Benjamites the third time, but gave them a promise of victory: Tomorrow I will deliver them into thy hand, Jdg 20:28.
2.They were previously so confident of the greatness of their strength that they thought it needless to use any art, to lay any ambush, or form a stratagem, not doubting but to conquer purely by a strong hand; but now they saw it was requisite to use some policy, as if they had an enemy to deal with them that had been superior in number; accordingly, they set liers in wait (Jdg 20:29), and gained their point, as their fathers did before Ai (Jos. 8), stratagems of that kind being most likely to take effect after a previous defeat, which has flushed the enemy, and made the pretended flight the less suspected. The management of this artifice is here very largely described. The assurance God had given them of success in this day's action, instead of making them remiss and presumptuous, set all heads and hands on work for the effecting of what God had promised.
(1.)Observe the method they took. The body of the army faced the city of Gibeah, as they had done before, advancing towards the gates, Jdg 20:30. The Benjamites, the body of whose army was now quartered at Gibeah, sallied out upon them, and charged them with great bravery. The besiegers gave back. retired with precipitation, as if their hearts failed them upon the sight of the Benjamites, which they were willing to believe, proudly imagining that by their former success they had made themselves very formidable. Some loss the Israelites sustained in this counterfeit flight, about thirty men being cut off in their rear, Jdg 20:31, Jdg 20:39. But, when the Benjamites were all drawn out of the city, the ambush seized the city (Jdg 20:37), gave a signal to the body of the army (Jdg 20:38, Jdg 20:40), which immediately turned upon them (Jdg 20:41), and, it should seem, another considerable party that was posted at Baal-tamar came upon them at the same time (Jdg 20:33); so that the Benjamites were quite surrounded, which put them into the greatest consternation that could be. A sense of guilt now disheartened them, and the higher their hopes had been raised the more grievous was this confusion. At first the battle was sore (Jdg 20:34), the Benjamites fought with fury; but, when they saw what a snare they were drawn into, they thought one pair of heels (as we say) was worth two pair of hands, and they made the best of their way towards the wilderness (Jdg 20:42); but in vain: the battle overtook them, and, to complete their distress, those who came out of the cities of Israel, that waited to see the event of the battle, joined with their pursuers, and helped to cut them off. Every man's hand was against them.
(2.)Observe in this story, [1.] That the Benjamites, in the beginning of the battle, were confident that the day was their own: They are smitten down before us, Jdg 20:32, Jdg 20:39. Sometimes God suffers wicked men to be lifted up in successes and hopes, that their fall may be the sorer. See how short their joy is, and their triumphing but for a moment. Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast, except he has reason to boast in God. [2.] Evil was near them and they did not know it, Jdg 20:34. But (Jdg 20:41) they saw, when it was too late to prevent it, that evil had come upon them. What evils may at any time be near us we cannot tell, but the less they are feared the heavier they fall. Sinners will not be persuaded to see evil near them, but how dreadful will it be when it comes and there is no escaping! Th1 5:3. [3.] Though the men of Israel played their parts so well in this engagement, yet the victory is ascribed to God (Jdg 20:35): The Lord smote Benjamin before Israel. The battle was his, and so was the success. [4.] They trode down the men of Benjamin with ease when God fought against them, Jdg 20:43. It is an easy thing to trample upon those who have made God their enemy. See Mal 4:3.
II. How the victory was prosecuted and improved in a military execution done upon these sinners against their own souls. 1. Gibeah itself, that nest of lewdness, was destroyed in the first place. The ambush that entered the city by surprise drew themselves along, that is, dispersed themselves into the several parts of it, which they might easily do, now that all the men of war had sallied out and very presumptuously left it defenceless; and they smote all they found, even women and children, with the sword (Jdg 20:37), and set fire to the city, Jdg 20:40. Sin brings ruin upon cities. 2. The army in the field was quite routed and cut off: 18,000 men of valour lay dead upon the spot, Jdg 20:44. 3. Those that escaped from the field were pursued, and cut off in their flight, to the number of 7000, Jdg 20:45. It is to no purpose to think of out-running divine vengeance. Evil pursues sinners, and it will overtake them. 4. Even those that tarried at home were involved in the ruin. They let their sword devour for ever, not considering that it would be bitterness in the latter end, as Abner pleads long after, when he was at the head of an army of Benjamites, probably with an eye to this very story, Sa2 2:25, Sa2 2:26. They put to the sword all that breathed, and set fire to all the cities, Jdg 20:48. So that of all the tribe of Benjamin, for aught that appears, there remained none alive but 600 men that took shelter in the rock Rimmon, and lay close there four months, Jdg 20:47. Now, (1.) It is difficult to justify this severity as it was Israel's act. The whole tribe of Benjamin was culpable; but must they therefore be treated as devoted Canaanites? That it was done in the heat of war, that this was the way of prosecuting victories which the sword of Israel had been accustomed to, that the Israelites were extremely exasperated against the Benjamites for the slaughter they had made among them in the two former engagements, will go but a little way to excuse the cruelty of this execution. It is true they had sworn that whosoever did not come up to Mizpeh should be put to death, Jdg 21:5. But that, if it was a justifiable oath, yet extended only to the men of war; the rest were not expected to come. Yet, (2.) It is easy to justify the hand of God in it. Benjamin had sinner against him, and God had threatened that, if they forgot him, they should perish as the nations that were before them perished (Deu 8:20), who were all in this manner cut off. (3.) It is easy likewise to improve it for warning against the beginnings of sin: they are like the letting forth of water, therefore leave it off before it be meddled with, for we know not what will be in the end thereof. The eternal ruin of souls will be worse, and more fearful, than all these desolations of a tribe. This affair of Gibeah is twice spoken of by the prophet Hosea as the beginning of the corruption of Israel and a pattern to all that followed (Hos 9:9): They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; and (Hos 10:9), Thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah; and it is added that the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not (that is, did not at first) overtake them.
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SUMMARY
Judges 20:38 unveils a pivotal tactical detail in the third and ultimately decisive battle between the tribes of Israel and Benjamin: a pre-arranged signal involving a large, unmistakable flame with smoke. This signal, critical for the coordinated assault, was to be made by the Israelite ambushers concealed within the city of Gibeah, indicating that their strategic position was secured and the Benjamites had been successfully drawn out. This verse underscores the meticulous planning and divine guidance that characterized Israel's final, successful engagement after two devastating defeats, highlighting the profound importance of precise coordination and God's sovereign hand in bringing about justice amidst civil strife.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices that enhance its impact and meaning within the broader narrative of Judges. Foreshadowing is powerfully present, as the "great flame with smoke" not only functions as a tactical signal but also grimly foreshadows the fiery destruction that will imminently befall Gibeah and, by extension, the judgment upon the Benjamite tribe. This visual of rising smoke and flame is a potent biblical motif, frequently associated with divine judgment, purification, and destruction. There is also a strong element of Symbolism, where the fire and smoke symbolize not merely a military signal, but the consuming nature of unaddressed sin and the purifying, albeit devastating, judgment of God upon it. The meticulous planning described, particularly after Israel's previous, chaotic failures, highlights a significant narrative shift, indicating a return to Divine Providence actively guiding Israel's actions, contrasting sharply with their earlier self-reliance. The Narrative Pacing here is deliberate and suspenseful, building tension towards the climactic third battle, with this precise tactical detail emphasizing the exactitude and divine orchestration required for victory after earlier, more haphazard attempts.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 20:38, though a detail of military strategy, profoundly illustrates God's active involvement in human affairs and the indispensable consequences of seeking His guidance. After two humiliating defeats, Israel finally humbled themselves, wept before the Lord, and sought His specific instruction, leading to this intricate and divinely-revealed battle plan. This demonstrates that even in seemingly secular or violent contexts, God's sovereignty prevails, and His wisdom is paramount for success, especially when human efforts have failed. The "appointed sign" underscores the divine orchestration of events, where even small, precise details are part of God's larger purpose to bring about justice for the heinous sin committed in Gibeah. It serves as a powerful reminder that true victory, even in the pursuit of righteousness, is not achieved by human strength or cunning alone, but by humble reliance on God's strategic wisdom and His timing. This pattern of human failure followed by divine intervention and meticulous instruction is a recurring theme throughout biblical history, emphasizing God's patience, His unwavering commitment to justice, and His desire for His people's humble obedience.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The detailed strategy in Judges 20:38, born out of Israel's humbling defeats and subsequent earnest seeking of God's wisdom, offers profound and timeless lessons for contemporary life. It serves as a potent reminder that even when we are pursuing a just or righteous cause, our own strength, initial strategies, or self-reliant approaches may prove utterly insufficient. True and lasting success, whether personal or communal, often emerges from a posture of humility, a sincere seeking of divine counsel, and patiently waiting for God's specific, strategic guidance. Just as the "appointed sign" was absolutely crucial for coordinated action in this military context, clear communication, precise execution, and divine timing are vital in our personal and communal endeavors, be it in family life, professional settings, or church ministry. Furthermore, this narrative serves as a somber warning about the devastating, far-reaching consequences of unaddressed sin and pervasive moral decay, not just for individuals but for entire communities. It compels us to reflect on areas where we, or our communities, might be acting independently of God's wisdom, leading to repeated failures, internal strife, or unresolved issues, and encourages a return to seeking His specific, strategic direction for true and lasting resolution, reconciliation, and restoration.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was an "appointed sign" so crucial for Israel's victory in this battle?
Answer: The "appointed sign" was crucial because it was the linchpin of a complex, divinely-revealed ambush strategy, given after Israel's previous, self-reliant failures. The main Israelite army needed a clear, unmistakable signal from the "liers in wait" (the ambushers) hidden within Gibeah. This signal, a great flame and smoke, would precisely indicate that the ambushers had successfully infiltrated the city, set it ablaze, and drawn the Benjamite forces out of their stronghold, leaving them vulnerable. Without such a precise, pre-arranged signal, the timing of the main army's assault would have been uncoordinated, potentially leading to another disastrous defeat. It highlights the absolute importance of precise execution when following God's strategic instructions, as seen in other biblical ambushes like the one at Ai in Joshua 8.
What is the significance of the signal being a "great flame with smoke"?
Answer: The combination of a "great flame" and "smoke" was chosen for its maximum visibility and clarity, ensuring the signal could be seen regardless of the time of day. A flame would be highly visible at night, while a large column of smoke would be clearly seen during daylight hours. The "great" aspect further emphasized its intended prominence, ensuring it couldn't be mistaken for a small, accidental fire. This dual-purpose, highly prominent signal was essential for communicating across a distance to the main Israelite army, ensuring that the critical moment for their charge was precisely understood and acted upon, preventing any confusion or delay that could jeopardize the entire operation. It underscores the meticulous detail in God's battle plan, leaving no room for ambiguity.
How does this verse, focused on military tactics, relate to God's character or broader theological truths?
Answer: While seemingly a tactical detail, Judges 20:38 profoundly reveals several theological truths about God's character and His interaction with humanity. Firstly, it showcases God's sovereignty and active involvement in human affairs, even in the context of war and judgment. After Israel's repeated failures and their subsequent humbling themselves, God provided a specific, detailed strategy, demonstrating His willingness to guide His people when they seek Him in humility. Secondly, it highlights God's justice; the meticulous plan was orchestrated to bring about righteous judgment upon the Benjamites for their grievous sin, specifically the atrocity committed in Gibeah. Thirdly, it illustrates the principle that true success comes not from human strength, initial presumption, or self-reliance, but from humble obedience to God's specific instructions, even in the smallest details. It underscores that God works through human means, but always according to His divine plan and timing, ultimately bringing His purposes to fruition as demonstrated throughout the narrative of Judges.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 20:38, with its focus on a divinely appointed sign leading to judgment, the defeat of a rebellious element, and the eventual re-establishment of order within Israel, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The "great flame with smoke" rising from Gibeah symbolizes a judgment that, while devastating, ultimately purifies and sets the stage for restoration within the covenant community. This grim yet necessary act of justice foreshadows the ultimate judgment on sin, which was not executed upon humanity, but upon the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who bore the full wrath of God for our transgressions, becoming the "appointed sign" of God's redemptive plan. Just as Israel needed a pre-arranged, clear signal for decisive action, humanity needed a clear, unmistakable sign of God's redemptive plan to overcome the dominion of sin and death. That sign is Christ Himself, whose coming was foretold by prophets (e.g., Isaiah 7:14) and whose life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection serve as the ultimate "appointed sign" from God to humanity, signaling the decisive victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15). The meticulous planning and divine guidance evident in Judges 20 point to the perfect, eternal plan of God for salvation, conceived before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5). In Christ, the full consequences of sin are borne, and a new covenant is established, offering not just a temporary restoration of a tribe, but the eternal reconciliation of all who believe to God, fulfilling the deepest longings for peace, justice, and true community that the tragic narrative of Judges so poignantly reveals (Romans 5:10-11).