Judges 20

Judges 20:1

Mizpeh] See the Observations on Ch. X. 17.

Judges 20:2

Footmen] Footmen four hundred thousand. We read not of Horsemen among the Israelites, in all, or any of their battels. Onely we finde them prepared iu Solomons time, 1 King. IV. 26. and IX. 19. and Ch. X. 26. 2 Chron. I. 14. and Ch.

VIII. 9. and Ch. IX. 25. where the four thousand stalls of horses for his Chariots, 2 Chron. IX. 25. agree well with the fourty thousand in 1 King. IV. 26. counting ten single stalls or divisions in every stable: yet we finde no expresse mention of the use of any horsemen in any battel afterwards. And to this the command and care for the houghing of the enemi es horses and the burning of their Charos, may have relation, Iosh, XI. 6, 9. 2 Sam. VIII. 4. 1 Chron.

XVIII. 4. yet we read of many horses and Chariots in warre; with the Canaantes, Iosh. XI. 4. Iudg. IV. 3 13. And many among the Israelites; Esay II. 7. Trust in them is forbidden, Du.

XVII. 16, 17. Psal. XX. 7. & XXXIII. 16, 17. Prov. XXI. 31.

Judges 20:18

Asked Counsel] The eleven Tribes presume here more upon their own strength and the justnesse of their Cause, then upon God; and consult him at first onely about the precedencie in the warre, and who shall have the honour of the day. And upon their first overthrow, they weep; but more for their shame, and smart, then for their sin; And they aske counsel of God, whether they shall fight again; but neither crave his assistance, nor inquire of the successe, being still so confident in themselves of their own strength, and still putting their trust in the arme of flesh and blood. But upon the second overthrow, they seek God in a right manner; they more seriously mourn, and Fast, and repent of their sins; Offering Burnt-offerings for the expiation of them; and Peace offerings, to make their peace with God, and testifie their Faith in him: And gaining a Promise of successe, yet they carefully use the means, and stratagems, which formerly they sleighted, and presumptuously neglected. And by this stratagem they seeme to divide their army into three parts; some to lie in wait; some to fight, and seemingly flee: And the body of their Army, as a strong reserve to fall on and gaine the victory, upon an appointed signe, when the Benjamites were brought to an amazed stand, and come within the reach of it.

Judges 20:28

Phineas] Phineas here living, yet died long before Sampson was borne; which sheweth this History preceded Sampson a long time. As the like might have been observed, to a like end, of many other Passages in these five last Chapters, as hath been formerly said.

Judges 20:46

All which fell] The odde hundred men mentioned, ver. 35 are here omitted; as well known out of the foresaid former verse; The sacred Author here contenting himself with the round number of 25000. As the like is in the number of the time of Davids reigne, 2 Sam. V. 5. and Ch. II. 11. And of the time of Solomons building the Temple, 1 King. VI. 1, 38. And the like is in Jephthahs accompt of the 300. years, Judg. XI. 26. And likely here in the number of the remaine of the Benjamites that were slaine after the three battels.

Judges 20:48

Turned again] This done in heat of warre, and rage of blood; though after a sort it may be said to be done in cold blood, and after the fierce brunt of warre was over And of this, they repented afterwards, as of a barborous and bloody act, as well they might. This slaughter lessened the number of the Benjamites in very many generations after. See that in Jehoshaphat’s time, comparing the number of Benjamin with Judah, 2 Chron. XVII. 14,—18.