Judges 20:26-35
Israel Weeps and Waits
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26Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.
27And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,
28and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”
29So Israel set up an ambush around Gibeah.
30On the third day the Israelites went up against the Benjamites and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as they had done before.
31The Benjamites came out against them and were drawn away from the city. They began to attack the people as before, killing about thirty men of Israel in the fields and on the roads, one of which led up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah.
32“We are defeating them as before,” said the Benjamites. But the Israelites said, “Let us retreat and draw them away from the city onto the roads.”
33So all the men of Israel got up from their places and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar, and the Israelites in ambush charged from their positions west of Gibeah.
34Then 10,000 select men from all Israel made a frontal assault against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce. But the Benjamites did not realize that disaster was upon them.
35The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
After two defeats, all Israel goes to Bethel. The people weep, fast until evening, and bring burnt offerings and peace offerings. The ark of God's covenant is there, with Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, serving before it.
They ask whether to fight their brothers again or stop. This time the LORD's answer includes a promise of victory the next day. Israel sets an ambush around Gibeah and returns to battle.
Benjamin attacks as before, killing about thirty Israelites and believing another victory has begun. But Israel's retreat is deliberate, drawing the Benjamites away from the city. The hidden forces advance, and ten thousand chosen men make a frontal assault.
The LORD defeats Benjamin. The account gives the terrible number of twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamite swordsmen killed that day. This is God's announced judgment, not simply the stronger side winning. The people being judged are also fellow Israelites, whom the assembly has called its brothers.
Questions
1 How does Israel approach the LORD before this battle?
AnswerThe people weep, fast, and present offerings at Bethel, where Phinehas serves before the ark of the covenant.
2 What does the LORD promise?
AnswerHe tells them to fight and promises to deliver Benjamin into their hands the next day.
3 Why does Israel retreat at the start of the battle?
AnswerIt is a planned move to draw Benjamin away from Gibeah while the ambush advances. Benjamin mistakes it for another defeat.
4 How can we remain compassionate while facing a serious wrong?
AnswerWe can seek accountability without treating those involved as objects of entertainment or contempt. Necessary consequences still affect real people.
What This Means for Us
A serious judgment should not become a reason to stop caring about people. We can tell the truth about wrongdoing and remain sober about its consequences. The LORD's particular command in this battle does not give us permission for whatever action anger suggests. Our own conduct remains answerable to His word.
Prayer
Lord, give us truthful judgment and compassionate hearts. Keep us from delighting in another person's suffering, and help us obey Your word when a wrong must be addressed. Amen.
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