Artwork by Douglas Kallerson.
Judges 20:36-48
(No King in Israel, Part IX)
(Typed 22 Jul 2024) The 21st of July was a marvelous day, long and tiring, but all Sundays are. I start at 3:30 am, and there is something to do right through 6 pm. There is no such thing as a 20-minute break, except here at church before the sermon, and that usually involves me taking care of something or someone.
Needless to say, at 6:10 pm, I was quite happy to shut down the computer and say, “Time for a shower, dinner, and then I can sleep.” Unfortunately, at 6:12 pm, Hideko walked up and asked why there was a puddle under Grandpa’s car.
I had no idea what she was talking about, but when I walked out, I saw the whole driveway was flooded there. When I moved his car, the bricks were bulging up like Mr. Creosote. That meant digging up the driveway at 6:30 pm to try and stop an obviously huge water leak.
If I just left it alone, we’d have a one or two-thousand-dollar water bill and possibly no water for the entire night. I had work to do. No shower, no food, no sleep…
Text Verse: “O Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah;
There they stood.
The battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity
Did not overtake them.” Hosea 10:9
The battle of Gibeah will deal with works. That will be seen as we continue through the verses and explain the typology. There are some works we must do, such as fixing the water line. It could not be fixed Sunday night, so we had no water. I got a temporary fix on it Monday morning, interrupting sermon typing. But at least it got done.
The entire driveway, from the road to the house needed to be dug up to replace the copper line that was now over 50 years old and which needed to be replaced. Then the entire parking lot of paver bricks needed to be re-laid, but that would be contracted out.
It will be a lot of hard, hot, tiring work, and it will be expensive. But it is nothing compared to what Jesus did. He did all the work necessary for man to be saved. All of it. To say otherwise is to essentially slap God in the face.
We cannot earn our way to heaven, and we cannot outdo what Jesus has done. To attempt to do so will result in condemnation. People who think they are meriting God’s favor through the law are deluded. They have rejected Jesus and bear the spirit of antichrist.
Such truths as this are to be found in His superior word. And so, let us turn to that precious word once again, and… May God speak to us through His word today, and may His glorious name ever be praised.
I. The Rock of Rimmon (verses 36-48)
These verses reexplain the battle described in verses 30 to 35, providing more detail than previously.
36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were defeated.
vayiru v’ne vinyamin ki nigaphu – “And see, sons Benjamin, that struck.” There are two possibilities as to who “they” is referring to. The first is Benjamin, seeing that they have been defeated before Israel based on verse 35, which said, “And strikes, Yehovah, Benjamin to faces Israel.”
The second, correct, view is that this is speaking of the men of Israel being struck before Benjamin as stated in verse 32, “And say, sons Benjamin, ‘Struck, they, to our faces according to in the first.’”
Israel feigned defeat as in the previous days of fighting. This has Benjamin confident. They are being lulled into a sense of their own overwhelming superiority to make a bad decision that will cost them the battle…
36 (con’) The men of Israel had given ground to the Benjamites, because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.
vayitnu ish Yisrael maqom l’vinyamin ki batkhu el ha’orev asher samu el hagivah – “And give man Israel place to Benjaman, for trusted unto the ambushing who set unto the Gibeah.” The men of Israel pretended that they were once again being beaten by Benjamin. As such, they retreated. This would draw Benjamin away from the city and expose it to those lying in ambush…
37 And the men in ambush quickly rushed upon Gibeah; the men in ambush spread out and struck the whole city with the edge of the sword.
v’ha’orev hekhishu vayiphsh’tu el hagivah vayimsokh ha’orev vayak eth kal ha’ir l’pi kharev – “And the ambushing hastened and deploy unto the Gibeah, and draws the ambushing and strikes all the city to mouth sword.” With Benjamin successfully drawn away from the city, the city is left in a state of nudity, as indicated in verse 33, which said, “and ambushing Israel gushes from his place from nudity Geba.” Those set in ambush rushed into the city.
Some think the word mashak, draw, means they drew a blast on the trumpet to alert all of those ambushing to take the city. The word was used like that in Joshua 6:5. This is incorrect. That would alert Benjamin of the attack.
Rather, the words “and draws the ambushing” mean that those set in the ambush extended themselves, being drawn out, in order to surround and attack the city. This is how the word was used in Judges 4:6, 7. Once the city was sufficiently surrounded, those with access would rush through the gates and begin the job of killing everyone inside with the mouth of the kherev (חרב), sword.
38 Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise up from the city,
A paraphrase is needed. A direct translation is almost unintelligible. And more, the construction causes all kinds of speculation on what is being said: v’ha’moed hayah l’ish Yisrael im ha’orev herev [or kherev] l’haalotham masath he’ashan min ha’ir – “And the appointment was, to man Israel with the ambushing, increase [or sword] to their ascending, ascension the smoke from the city.”
The words, “And the appointment was, to man Israel with the ambushing” refer to what was preset by both parties, meaning the main force of Israel and those set in ambush. They agreed upon the sign. It is the next words, translated as “increase to their ascending,” that are so complicated – הֶ֕רֶב לְהַעֲלֹותָ֛ם.
The first word, herev, has several problems that are quite complicated. The word itself is spelled hay, resh, beith. It is believed to be from ravah, to be or become great. One opinion is that it is an apocopated (shortened by omitting one or more sounds at the end) form of an imperative, mixing the direct with the indirect.
Another opinion is that it is an apocopated infinitive. A third is that it is an incorrect repetition of the preceding word as they are similarly spelled –
הָאֹרֵ֑ב / הארב
הֶ֕רֶב / הרב
A third possibility is that it is simply a gloss (an annotation, a footnote, an explanation, a comment or commentary, etc.). A fourth possibility is that the spelling is actually kheth, resh, beith. The hay and the kheth are almost identical, ה or ח.
This would then change the meaning to “sword to their ascending.” This is supported by some Hebrew manuscripts and one Greek manuscript. Each explanation has its detractors and its own pros and cons.
39 whereupon the men of Israel would turn in battle.
vayahaphokh ish Yisrael bamilkhamah – “And turns, man Israel, in the war.” The forces of Israel, who had retreated as if they were beaten again by Benjamin, have seen the signal of the smoke ascending. With that, they turn in order to face those chasing them.
39 (con’t) Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty of the men of Israel. For they said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.”
u-vinyamin hekhel l’hakoth khalalim b’ish Yisrael kishloshim ish ki amru akh nigoph nigaph hu l’phanenu kamilkhamah harishonah – “And Benjamin began to strike pierced in man Israel, according to thirty man. For said, ‘Surely, striking struck he to our faces according to the war the first.” This conveys new information, explaining how the defeat of Benjamin took place.
Benjamin was chasing Israel who was fleeing as if they were losing. While chasing them, thirty men of Israel fell. Benjamin thought things were going just as in the previous battles, which encouraged them to continue the chase, knowing they would be victorious.
Bullinger says, “THIRTY being 3 x 10, denotes in a higher degree the perfection of Divine order, as marking the right moment.”
40 But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and there was the whole city going up in smoke to heaven.
v’hamaseth hekhelah laaloth min ha’ir amud ashan vayiphen Binyamin akaharav v’hineh alah kh’lil ha’ir ha’shamaymah – “And the ascension began to ascend from the city, column smoke. And turns, Benjamin, behind him. And behold! Ascended whole the city the heaven-ward.” The city was overrun. Once everyone inside was killed, Israel set it on fire. The smoke was the signal for the army of Israel, who is currently pretending to retreat from Benjamin.
With the city on fire, Benjamin saw it. The realization of their error would have completely horrified them. But more…
41 And when the men of Israel turned back, the men of Benjamin panicked, for they saw that disaster had come upon them.
v’ish Yisrael haphakh vayibahel ish Binyamin ki raah ki nag’ah alav ha’raah – “And man Israel turned. And shuddered man Benjamin, for saw that touched upon him the evil.” Benjamin is facing the entire army of Israel who has assumed the initiative. Gibeon is being consumed by fire, meaning Benjamin’s families and homes. They cannot retreat there, and Israel is coming full upon them. Thus, they shudder in fear of what they have to face…
42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness;
vayiphnu liphne ish Yisrael el derekh ha’midbar – “And turn to faces man Israel unto road the wilderness.” The men of Benjamin were facing Israel. Thus, they turned their faces away and fled on the road to the wilderness in an attempt to save themselves…
42 (con’t) but the battle overtook them, and whoever came out of the cities they destroyed in their midst.
Rather: v’ha’milkhamah hidbiqathu vaasher mehearim mashkhithim otho b’thokho – “And the war impinged him. And who from the cities, ruined (pl.) him in his midst.” Translations that make the singulars into plurals do so, trying to explain the difficulties, but they only make things worse.
The words “in his midst” are either referring to Benjamin or the wilderness (meaning “in its midst”). If it refers to the wilderness, then everything in between is a circumstantial clause. If it refers to Benjamin, then “who from the cities” would probably mean those of the cities of Benjamin who fled from the cities were destroyed along with the soldiers of Benjamin.
As there is more than one city of Benjamin, and because only Gibeah is said to be burned, the latter seems likely because it would then explain Chapter 21, where there are no women of Benjamin left.
The masculine “him” would be all-encompassing, speaking of the aged, the youth too young to fight, and the women. Anyone who fled the cities was killed along with the warriors of Benjamin.
43 They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them,
The words are obscure and complicated: kitru eth Binyamin hirdiphuhu m’nukhah – “Enclosed Benjamin. Pursued his rest.”
There is a new word, kathar. It signifies to enclose as if in surrounding or besieging. Benjamin is completely hemmed in. As for the word menukhah, it is a noun signifying rest or a resting place. It seems to mean that Benjamin has no place of rest. As soon as he thinks he can stop and rest, Israel is right there to destroy him.
Because of the complicated nature of the words, some translations just say “from Nukhah” which would be the name of a place meaning Rest.
43 (con’t) and easily trampled them down as far as the front of Gibeah toward the east.
hidrikhuhu ad nokhakh hagivah mimizrakh shamesh – “Tread him until front the Gibeah from ascension sun.” Israel chased Benjamin from the point where they had been pursued until they turned back, becoming the pursuers. This continued until they were just in front of the now burned-out city of Gibeah. This pursuit was from east to west. Of those in this pursuit…
44 And eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor.
vayiplu mibinyamin shmoneh asar eleph ish eth kal eleh anshe khayil – “And falls, from Benjamin, eight ten thousand man. All these men valor.” The number 18 was explained in the previous sermon.
45 Then they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon;
vayiphnu vayanusu hamidbarah el selah ha’rimmon – “And turn, and flee the wilderness-ward, unto Rock the Rimmon.” This refers to the remaining men of Benjamin who have not yet been killed. Upon coming to the east side of Gibeah and realizing there was no haven left where they could retreat, they turned and fled in the direction of the wilderness as far as Rock the Rimmon.
The name Rimmon means Pomegranate. But the pomegranate symbolizes harvest-ready fruit, and so it can further mean Mature Mind or Harvest Ready. The type of rock is a sela, or craggy rock. That comes from a root signifying to be lofty.
45 (con’t) and they cut down five thousand of them on the highways. Then they pursued them relentlessly up to Gidom, and killed two thousand of them.
vayol’luhu bamsiloth khameshet alaphim ish vayadbiqu akharav ad gidom vayaku mimenu alpayim ish – “And he gleans in the highways five thousands man. And impinge after him until Gidom. And strike from him two thousand man.” The meaning of glean is that the army was already picked through like in a harvest. Anything left is then gleaned, or picked clean, one berry or stalk at a time.
Of those not killed on the way to Gibeah and who were in flight towards the wilderness, five thousand more were killed. Once in the area of Gidom, two thousand more were killed. The name Gidom is derived from the account. It signifies Cut Off or Exterminated, coming from gada, to hew down or cut off. Benjamin had been cut off at this location.
Five thousand is a multiple of five, grace, and ten, completeness of order where “nothing is wanting; that the number and order are perfect; that the whole cycle is complete” (Bullinger).
46 So all who fell of Benjamin that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all these were men of valor.
vayhi khal ha’nophlim mibinyamin esrim vakhamishah eleph ish sholeph kherev bayom ha’hu eth kal eleh anshe khayil – “And is all the falling from Benjamin twenty and five thousand man drawing sword in the day, the it. All these men valor.” The number matches: 18+5+2 = 25. The number is a multiple of fives and ten. This is a record of only those killed on the third day of battle. The more precise number on this day was stated in verse 35, 25,100.
47 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they stayed at the rock of Rimmon for four months.
vayiphnu vayanusu hamidbarah el sela ha’rimmon shesh meoth ish vayeshvu b’sela Rimmon arbaah khodashim – “And turn, and flee the wilderness-ward unto Rock the Rimmon six hundreds man. And sit in Rock Rimmon four months.” There are only six hundred male soldiers of Benjamin who survived. They fled as far as the rock, and that is where they remained.
The number is derived from six, the number of man, especially fallen man, and tens. Four is the number of material creation, the world number, and especially the city number.
The numbers now total 25,700 because of the number in verse 35. But Judges 20:15 said there were 26,700 total. Of course people complain about this, adjust the text, claim whoever recorded the narrative was a doof, etc. However, it is simple to explain. In the previous two battles, it would be unthinkable that tens of thousands of Israel died in each engagement, but none of Benjamin died.
As such, the additional 1000 are a rounded figure who certainly perished during those conflicts. There being less than one thousand on the two days, the numbers were not recorded to indicate the superlative nature of the rout of Israel by Benjamin.
48 And the men of Israel turned back against the children of Benjamin, and struck them down with the edge of the sword—from every city, men and beasts, all who were found.
Rather: v’ish Yisrael shavu el b’ne vinyamin vayakum l’pi kherev meir m’thom ad b’hemah ad kal hanimtsa – “And man Israel turned unto sons Benjamin, and struck them to mouth sword from city, completion until beast until all the found.” The words mean that the men of the army of Israel turned back to destroy any remaining survivors in Benjamin, killing them all. This was in every city, and it included every beast and every person that breathed. No memory of Benjamin beyond the six hundred at Rock the Rimmon remained.
*48 (fin) They also set fire to all the cities they came to.
gam kal hearim hanimtsaoth shilkhu ba’esh – “Also, all the cities, the found, sent in the fire.” With the people dead in each city, they then proceeded to burn them down. It speaks of utter destruction. With that, the narrative is complete.
Benjamin reaped the rewards of their wickedness, and Israel seemingly has a void in her tribes because of it. The final chapter of the book of Judges will detail how that void is dealt with. The entire narrative is a sad indictment of human sin and man’s failure to deal with it properly.
There is an inheritance that is coming to us
And it has already been granted: the deal is done
We have received the promise because of Jesus
It is based on His work alone – that of God’s own Son
There is no need to worry if we will enter glory
It is guaranteed because we believed what was told to us
We heard the word of faith, the gospel story
And we believed on the glorious name of Jesus
The inheritance is given to all who are sanctified
It has been granted because of what God has done
It has come through the blood of Jesus, He who died
And who rose again! In Him the victory is won
II. Explaining the Typology
The chapter is long and filled with an enormous amount of detail. To explain every verse in detail would take three full sermons. But we can get the picture through broad brushstrokes of what is being presented.
The first thing to remember is that the concubine of the Levite was divided and sent out to all Israel. She pictured the apostate church of the church age. She was violated by the Benjamites of Gibeah and died at the threshold of the house. It was a picture of her missing the rapture.
The Benjamites picture those with a false Jesus and a false gospel. They had super no bueno relations with the false church and eventually brought about her demise. The false church not raptured testifies to Israel.
Verse 1 noted that all of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, came out to determine the matter. It speaks of the totality of Israel. If this is after the rapture, then it is inclusive of the tribulation period. If so, then Dan, Judge, represents the time of the rapture, something hinted at by James 5:9 where he says the Judge stands at the door.
Beersheba refers to the seven years of the tribulation initiated by the antichrist as was the case in the story of Genesis 26. This also includes those from the Gilead, The Perpetual Fountain, east of the Jordan. That represents the giving of the Spirit to Israel at the end of the tribulation.
The congregation has gathered at Mizpah, the Watchtower, to decide how to respond. The Lord is monitoring the events of Israel. The congregation includes the corners of the tribes, meaning the main supports, their leaders.
The number of those gathered is four hundred thousand. It is the world number and the number of completion where the whole cycle is complete. The totality of Israel in a final decision is thus the intent. Verse 3 noted that the sons of Benjamin heard about the gathering.
Benjamin represents the messianics of Israel. It is the ideology that a Messiah is coming. Those of Gibeah say that the Messiah is Jesus, but they believe in a false Jesus. Hence, they had relations with the false church. They are law observers who failed to trust in the grace of Christ. The cut-up concubine proves that the false church was not raptured, and these people, aligned with them, were not true believers as well.
In verse 8, the proposal is to destroy Gibeah, who has done these things. The agreement included casting the lot (verse 9) to decide who would go first. This shows that Israel does not have the Spirit to make decisions. Instead, they consult lots for guidance this way. Despite that, it does say the Lord responded. As it says in the Proverb, the Lord directs such things –
“The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord.” Proverbs 16:33
Verse 10 notes that Gibeah had done foolishness in Israel. They were morally corrupt. As noted, Gibeah is etymologically connected to the word Gabbatha. It has consistently pictured this. However, verse 10 and verse 33 record the name as Geba, not Gibeah.
Geba is missing the hay suffix. The letter is the fifth letter of the Aleph Beth, the number of grace. It also is used when referring to a connection to the Spirit. Its meaning is Look, Reveal, and Breath. Each is something connected with the Spirit. As such, it is a note that these people, though claiming the crucified Jesus, have claimed a false Jesus and have no connection to the Spirit.
Israel comes against this false doctrine, even if they don’t yet know what is right. In order to do so, they go to Benjamin telling them to give up the sons of worthlessness of Gibeah. Benjamin, the messianics, refuse.
To stop and explain, Israel is looking for a messiah. The problem is that whether they accept a false Jesus of works or another messiah, they are not looking for the true Messiah who has already come. This is the pickle that these people are in.
Thus, Benjamin, at this time, is reflective of the spirit of messiah, even if it is the false Messiah. The nation as a whole, whether messianic or not, is not looking for the Jesus of grace at this point. This story is given to show the resolution of that.
In their refusal, Benjamin musters 26000 soldiers. The meaning of the numbers indicates first a division, that of messianic thinking. Next, of rebellion, apostasy, defection, corruption, etc., that of doctrine. Also, completion of the whole cycle where the division and apostasy will end.
It also noted 700 choice men. These are mentioned separately in order to not mar the meaning of the number 26,000. Seven is spiritual perfection, ten is the completion of the cycle. It is a note that when the cycle is complete, spiritual perfection will be realized.
Out of this total number, there are noted 700 left-handed (actually shut up in the right hand) who could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. The description speaks of someone who is so law-observant that they never miss the mark in sinning. They weed out every sin. But it is still law-observance, and it fails to address inherited sin and the forgiveness of sin through Christ.
This is included to show that even the most meticulous messianic, who also observes every point of the law without fail, still stands opposed to grace and thus to the truth of God in Christ.
Verse 18 had the sons of Israel, meaning the soldiers, go to inquire of elohim, God in general, at Bethel (House of God). It is a general appeal to God that anyone, anywhere might do. Despite that, it says the Lord responded that Judah was to go first, meaning Praise is to go first. Unfortunately, one cannot praise God unless he praises Him through Jesus.
In going up, 22,000 of Israel died. There is division in their thinking, there is disorder, disorganization, and imperfection in their actions, and it carries through until the whole cycle is complete.
In their failure, they strengthen themselves. This is a note of self-trust. The Lord is not yet included in their every action. After this, they went up and wept before the Lord. Hooray, they are now acknowledging the Lord.
But it is the Lord in general, the same Lord they have consistently forsaken since Sinai, and the Lord they failed to recognize at His incarnation. The weeping is for their own loss, not for the Lord. They ask Him if they should go up against their brother again or not.
They acknowledge the brotherly affiliation, even if there is a point of strife between them. The answer from the Lord is to go up. No promises are made in the process. On this second day, 18,000 are killed. The number 18,000 is derived from two, nine, and ten, or three, six, and ten.
No matter which way eighteen is divided, there is the sense that man is not under the Lord but under transgression (2) and thus under judgment (9), and that it is for a divinely perfect period of time (3) where he remains fallen and destitute of God (6). That is seen in the words of Paul –
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4, 5
This state will be resolved when the whole cycle is complete (10). Verse 17 said, “all these drawing the sword.” The sword, kherev, has consistently pictured Mt. Horeb, the mount of the law. They were law observers who died under law. There is defeat from the messianics because of a failure to trust in Jesus.
Next, “all Israel” went up. The writing is on the wall. The messianics are wrong, but Israel under the law is just as wrong. And so they all go up to Bethel (House of God – think of the temple) and weep before the Lord, fasting till evening, and offering burnt offerings and peace offerings.
But this time, there is a new note. They inquire of the Lord, “And there, ark covenant the God in the days, the those.” This anticipates Israel acknowledging Jesus, the true Ark of the covenant of “the” God. The article always expresses those who are in a right relationship with Him or contrasts those who are not in a right relationship with Him. In this case, they now are.
It also noted the presence of Phinehas (Mouth of Judgement) the son of Eleazar (Whom God Helps), the son of Aaron (Very High). Each name anticipates Jesus, the true High Priest. He speaks the Judgment of God, He is the Help of God for His people –
“But I am poor and needy;
Make haste to me, O God!
You are my help [ezri] and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay.” Psalm 70:5
Jesus is the Son of the Most High (Luke 8:28). In finally consulting God through Him, the promise is made that God will deliver Benjamin into Israel’s hand. Verses 29-35 detailed the battle that would be conducted by setting an ambush.
Verse 31 had the unusual words “Gibeah-ward in the field.” The field is representative of the world (Matthew 13:38). The false doctrine of law observant messianics will be rooted out and wiped out.
Also, Israel arrayed in Baal Tamar, Lord of Righteousness, which pictures them standing on the merits of Christ and not their own righteousness. At that time, those ambushing are able to come against the nudity (the unprotected state) of Geba – the false belief in a Jesus inclusive of works, lacking grace and the Spirit.
From verse 36 through 46, the battle was reexplained in greater detail. Without going through every detail, verse 37 noted that all in the city were struck with the mouth of the sword. They died by the law observance they clung to.
Verse 38 had the unusual words, “And the appointment was, to man Israel with the ambushing, increase [or sword] to their ascending, ascension the smoke from the city.” As various texts read differently, it shows the confusion of the words. It would make no sense from the context to say a “sword” was ascending unless one understands that it is picturing the elimination of law observance.
Works of the law are completely burned up through acknowledging the grace of God in Christ. Only His works are sufficient to please God in the process of salvation. The ascension of the law in flames is what prompts Israel to turn and defeat the enemy.
Thirty of Israel were said to be struck down before this occurred. In other words, that moment was “the right moment,” marking “the perfection of Divine order.” The city that stood opposed to God was destroyed in fire.
Israel enclosed Benjamin and pursued his rest (verse 43). It is a nice touch. They were completely hemmed in and found no rest. Hebrews 4:3 says, “we who have believed do enter that rest.” Those who trust in self are not believers in the true Jesus. Rather, they follow a false Jesus.
Also, in verse 43, it noted they were trodden “until front the Gibeah from ascension sun [(mizrakh, from zarakh) sun (shemesh)].” It is a perfect description of Christ from His coming (zarakh) until His cross (represented by Gibeah) –
“But to you who fear My name
The Sun [shemesh] of Righteousness shall arise [zarakh]
With healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2
Faith in the Messiah will destroy the doctrines of the false messianics. The number of those who fell in verse 44 is 18,000, a number which fits perfectly. In verse 45, those remaining soldiers of Benjamin fled toward Rock the Rimmon.
That signifies Lofty of the Mature Mind and will be fully explained in Chapter 21. On the way to Rock the Rimmon, it noted that 5,000 were gleaned. Five is the number of grace. One might think, “Where is grace in that?” But gleaning implies a thorough going over. In this case, some will be spared. So even if there is slaying, there is grace in the process.
From Rock the Rimmon, 2,000 were pursued to Gidom (Cut Off). It is the final number of the battle, and it signifies that this is the end of the destruction. The division and difference (2) are ended, and the whole cycle is complete (10).
In verse 46, the final tally for the third day is recorded, 25,000. Again, a number of grace mixed with completion. Despite the destruction, there is grace in the preservation at the end of the cycle. That is seen in the number noted in verse 47, six hundred.
These men will be used to re-establish the tribe of Benjamin in the next chapter. They are men who will enter into a new economy with a new direction. Despite that, verse 48 closes with a note that everyone and everything else of Benjamin and its cities was destroyed and burned in the fire.
It speaks of the complete removal of all the false messianic beliefs found in Israel. There is one Messiah, and He has come. And in His coming, He ended the law. Adherence to the law is no longer what God expects.
Rather, He wants His people to understand and accept the grace He has given in the coming of Jesus Christ. Nothing else will do and all else will be destroyed. This is what is being conveyed to us in Judges 20.
Yes, there is a real tribulation period coming on the world. It will involve real battles and a great loss of life on earth, but there is a spiritual battle that God is focusing on above all else. All worldly battles are simply an extension of failing to submit in the spiritual realm.
Out of curiosity, I counted the number of times that Israel is mentioned in this chapter. The total is 42. It is the number associated with the antichrist. Although this is speculation, it is reasonable to assume that God is giving us a hint.
Until Israel gets to the end of the tribulation period, they will still be under the law. Even those messianics who claim to know Jesus but still teach law observance are of the spirit of antichrist.
I have explained this before, but this is a good reminder: If you say you must do deeds of the law to be right with God, you are essentially denying the deity of Christ. If Christ is God, and if God fulfilled the law (in His humanity, meaning Jesus Christ), then to say that you must observe the law testifies that you do not believe Jesus is truly God.
It is the spirit of antichrist. How many ways God has shown us this is almost astonishing. And yet, more stories keep coming up with the exact same result in the typology. Judges is a book about judging. God judges us based on what we do. And the one thing He wants us to “do” is to believe in His Son. Nothing else will do.
Come to Jesus and be saved. Everything else leads to a bad end.
Closing Verse: “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’
29 Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” John 6:28, 29
Next Week: Judges 21:1-19 For Jay, this is uncharted territory, as he knows well – yes and amen… (No King in Israel, Part X) (57th Judges Sermon)
The Lord has you exactly where He wants you. He has a good plan and purpose for you. It is He who judges His people according to their deeds. So, follow Him, live for Him, and trust Him, and He will do marvelous things for you and through you.
(No King in Israel, Part IX)
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were defeated
The men of Israel had given ground to the Benjamites
Because they relied on the men in ambush
Whom they had set against Gibeah like noble knights
And the men in ambush quickly rushed upon Gibeah
The men in ambush spread out and struck
The whole city with the edge of the sword
Benjamin was out of luck
Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel
And the men in ambush was that they would make
A great cloud of smoke rise up from the city
Whereupon the men of Israel would turn in battle and
———-strong action they would take
Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill
About thirty of the men of Israel
For they said, “Surely they are defeated before us
As in the first battle, so the signs seemed to tell
But when the cloud began to rise from the city
In a column of smoke, this was no joke
The Benjamites looked behind them
And there was the whole city going up to heaven in smoke
And when the men of Israel turned back
The men of Benjamin panicked, things were not swell
For they saw that disaster had come upon them
Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel
In the direction of the wilderness
But the battle overtook them, so it didst
And whoever came out of the cities
They destroyed in their midst
They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and easily
———-trampled them down
As far as the front of Gibeah toward the east
And eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell
All these were men of valor from the greatest to the least
Then they turned and fled toward the wilderness
To the rock of RimmonAnd they cut down five thousand of them on the highways
Then they pursued them relentlessly up to Gidom
And killed two thousand of them
So all who fell of Benjamin that day
Were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword
All these were men of valor, but with their lives they did pay
But six hundred men turned and fled
Toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon
And they stayed at the rock of Rimmon
For four months all alone
And the men of Israel turned back against the children of Benjamin
And struck them down with the edge of the sword
———-running them through
From every city, men and beasts, all who were found
They also set fire to all the cities they came to
Lord God, turn our hearts to be obedient to Your word
Give us wisdom to be ever faithful to You
May we carefully heed each thing we have heard
Yes, Lord God may our hearts be faithful and true
And we shall be content and satisfied in You alone
We will follow You as we sing our songs of praise
Hallelujah to You; to us Your path You have shown
Hallelujah we shall sing to You for all of our days
Hallelujah and Amen…
36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel had given ground to the Benjamites, because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah. 37 And the men in ambush quickly rushed upon Gibeah; the men in ambush spread out and struck the whole city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise up from the city, 39 whereupon the men of Israel would turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty of the men of Israel. For they said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.” 40 But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and there was the whole city going up in smoke to heaven. 41 And when the men of Israel turned back, the men of Benjamin panicked, for they saw that disaster had come upon them. 42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them, and whoever came out of the cities they destroyed in their midst. 43 They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and easily trampled them down as far as the front of Gibeah toward the east. 44 And eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor. 45 Then they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon; and they cut down five thousand of them on the highways. Then they pursued them relentlessly up to Gidom, and killed two thousand of them. 46 So all who fell of Benjamin that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all these were men of valor.
47 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they stayed at the rock of Rimmon for four months. 48 And the men of Israel turned back against the children of Benjamin, and struck them down with the edge of the sword—from every city, men and beasts, all who were found. They also set fire to all the cities they came to.