Fight Of The Brothers Series

Judges 20

Fight of the brothers

Introduction:

We have seen a Levite has sent the members of the body throughout Israel. A Levite man's concubine was brutally abused and murdered by men from Gibeah, a city in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 19:22–28). The Levite dismembered her corpse and sent pieces throughout Israel along with the story of what had happened. Israel's leaders react in shock and anger, resolving to meet to settle the issue (Judges 19:29–30). It does not appear that the Israelites on this occasion, were summoned by the authority of any one common head, but they came together by the consent and agreement of one common heart, fired with a holy zeal for the honour of God and Israel.

Mizpah:

As a response the representatives from eleven tribe except Benjamin gathered at Mizpah. It was a city of Benjamin means "the watch-tower", where the people were accustomed to meet in great national emergencies (Joshua 18:26, Judges 20:1, 3; 21:1, 5; 1 Samuel 7:5-16). There they heard the restated incident. The crime of Gibeah shocked the conscience of Israel. The eleven tribes of Israel had agreed that they will hold Benjamin accountable for this. It was a positive sign and showed their willing ness to deal with the problem of sin. A great moral passion flamed out. A resolution was adopted that they would not disperse till they had seen vengeance taken upon this wicked city, which was the reproach and scandal of their nation.

But the Benjaminites did not join the eleven and they wanted to save the city of Gibeah. Because it was a city belonging to Benjamin (Joshua 18:28; Judges 19:14) Gibeah of Benjamin (1 Samuel 13:2,15; 14:16), Gibeah of the children of Benjamin (2 Samuel 23:29), Gibeah of Saul (1 Samuel 11:4; Isaiah 10:29). The tribe of Benjamin committed a great sin by putting loyalty to their tribe before obedience to God’s Law. The tribe of Benjamin not only failed to support the just cause, they actively resisted with an assembled army. The wretched obstinacy and perverseness of the men of Benjamin, as unanimous and zealous in their resolutions to stand by the criminals and had so little sense of their honour, duty, and interest. (Judges 20:1–7).

Battle:

A civil war broke out. Israelite leaders travelled to Bethel consulted the priest in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant (Judges 20:27). The Lord answered that Judah should go first in the battle. The soldiers of Benjamin emerged from the city and counterattacked. The natural terrain of Gibeah probably made it difficult to assault. The people were also fighting on their home soil, so they knew it well. Benjamin's well-prepared and motivated soldiers killed about 22000 out of 4 Lakhs Israelite fighters (Judges 20:18–21).

With defeat the leaders and soldiers travelled to Bethel, and cried to the Lord with tears and sacrifices. They strengthened themselves in the LORD and moved forward. Now the Lord promised victory. The Israelites inquired of God all three times, and God answered them all three times, and told them to go. But the first two attempts had ended in disaster. Only the third and final attempt was successful. We are told in Judges 20: 26 that they fasted and offered sacrifices to the Lord before asking the third time (Judges 20:22–28). With a new strategy found in Joshua 8 against Ai. Israelite soldiers in hiding emerged and attacked the city (Judges 20:29–34). The tribe of Benjamin was almost completely exterminated, with only a small number of soldiers left in hiding (Judges 20:35–48). The most important emphasis in this story relates to the fact that God is the ideal Judge who brings justice to his world. Justice must be defined on God’s terms, not human terms.

Discussion: Why the positive prayers brought destruction, defeat to the Israelites?

(Ref: Bible ref; Enduring Word Commentary; Austin Precept; Cultural watch).