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APRIL 27
Gibeah, to go to battle against the children of
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Israel. And from their cities at that time the
children of Benjamin numbered twenty-six
thousand men who drew the sword, besides 20:22–25 The Lord twice allowed great defeat
the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered and death to Israel to bring them to their spir-
seven hundred select men. Among all this itual senses regarding the cost of tolerating
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people were seven hundred select men who apostasy.Also,while they sought counsel,they
were left-handed; every one could sling a stone placed too much reliance on their own
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at a hair’s breadth and not miss. Now besides prowess and on satisfying their own outrage.
Benjamin, the men of Israel numbered four Finally, when desperate enough, they fasted
hundred thousand men who drew the sword; and offered sacrifices (v. 26). The Lord then
all of these were men of war. gave victory with strategy similar to that at Ai
18 Then the children of Israel arose and went (Josh. 8).
up to the house of God to inquire of God. They
said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle
against the children of Benjamin?” inquired of the LORD (the ark of the covenant
The LORD said, “Judah first!” of God was there in those days, and Phinehas
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the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood
before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet
again go out to battle against the children of
my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?”
20:18 to inquire of God. The Lord gave His
counsel from the location of the ark at Shiloh, And the LORD said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will
probably through the Urim and Thummim (vv. deliver them into your hand.”
29 Then Israel set men in ambush all around
27,28). The tribe of Judah was responsible to
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lead in battle since God had chosen a leader- Gibeah. And the children of Israel went up
ship role for that tribe (Gen.49:8–12;1 Chr.5:1,2). against the children of Benjamin on the third
day, and put themselves in battle array against
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Gibeah as at the other times. So the children
19 So the children of Israel rose in the morn- of Benjamin went out against the people, and
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ing and encamped against Gibeah. And the were drawn away from the city. They began to
men of Israel went out to battle against Benja- strike down and kill some of the people, as at
min, and the men of Israel put themselves in the other times, in the highways (one of which
battle array to fight against them at Gibeah. goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah)
21 Then the children of Benjamin came out of and in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the 32 And the children of Benjamin said, “They are
ground twenty-two thousand men of the Isra- defeated before us, as at first.”
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elites. And the people, that is, the men of Is- But the children of Israel said, “Let us flee
rael, encouraged themselves and again and draw them away from the city to the high-
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formed the battle line at the place where they ways.” So all the men of Israel rose from their
had put themselves in array on the first day. place and put themselves in battle array at Baal
23 Then the children of Israel went up and wept Tamar. Then Israel’s men in ambush burst
before the LORD until evening, and asked forth from their position in the plain of Geba.
counsel of the LORD, saying, “Shall I again 34 And ten thousand select men from all Israel
draw near for battle against the children of my came against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce.
brother Benjamin?” But the Benjamites did not know that disaster
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And the LORD said, “Go up against him.” was upon them. The LORD defeated Benjamin
24 So the children of Israel approached the before Israel. And the children of Israel
children of Benjamin on the second day. And destroyed that day twenty-five thousand one
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Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah hundred Benjamites; all these drew the sword.
on the second day, and cut down to the ground 36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they
eighteen thousand more of the children of Is- were defeated. The men of Israel had given
rael; all these drew the sword. ground to the Benjamites, because they relied
26 Then all the children of Israel, that is, all on the men in ambush whom they had set
the people, went up and came to the house of against Gibeah. And the men in ambush
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God and wept. They sat there before the LORD quickly rushed upon Gibeah; the men in
and fasted that day until evening; and they ambush spread out and struck the whole city
offered burnt offerings and peace offerings with the edge of the sword. Now the appoint-
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before the LORD. So the children of Israel ed signal between the men of Israel and the
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