DBG - March 27 - Judges 20-21

In this chapter the campaign against the Benjaminites.

vs. 1-7 – The tribes of Israel assemble at Mizpeh (“watchtower”), a site about five miles from Gibeah where the atrocity was committed.  The gathered leaders hear the charges made by the Levite against the Benjaminites.

vs. 8-11 – 1 out of 10 soldiers was sent to gather rations for the army so that it could focus on the attack ahead.  In vs. 17 we see that there are 400,000 gathered, so 40,000 were thus assigned.

vs. 12-17 – The Benjaminites refuse to surrender the perpetrators to the assembled army to face justice.  They instead gather their army to defend their tribe. 

vs. 18-21 The assembled tribes send to the Tabernacle at Shiloh and are told that Judah is to lead the attack.  The first day of battle does not go well for the assembled tribes, and they saw 22,000 fall in the day’s fighting. 

vs. 22- 25 - The second day saw another 18,000 fall.

vs. 26-48 – The attack is renewed the third day.  A new strategy is employed.  The assembled tribes draw out the Benjaminites and then attack from the rear with 10,000 hidden troops.  25,000 Benjaminites total fall this day in the battle: 18,000 in the initial battle, 5,000 in the pursuit, and 2,000 at Gidom (“desolation”).  600 men of Benjamin survive by hiding in the rocky hill at Rimmon (“pomegranate”).  The people and cities of Benjamin are destroyed. 

In this chapter we read of the curious means by which the surviving Benjaminites found new wives to rebuild their tribe.

vs. 1-15 – While mourning the near destruction of the tribe of Benjamin, the other tribes turn on the city of Jabesh-Gilead for not joining the campaign.  The slaughter the men and women, saving only 400 virgins that they gave to the surviving Benjaminite men.  That left 200 men without wives.  The other tribes had sworn to not marry their daughters to them and would not budge – a strange place to insist on honor in this entire affair.

vs. 16-24 – The solution for finding brides for the remaining Benjaminites was to allow them kidnap women during a feast at Shiloh.  Everyone goes home and the remnant of Benjamin sets out to rebuild their tribe.

vs. 25 – We close the book with the reminder of the political, moral, and spiritual situation of the Judges era. 

We bid farewell the Book of Judges but not to its era.  We will read the Book of Ruth tomorrow, which belongs to this time period.  Also the opening chapters of I Samuel are part of this time.  The official ending would be the anointing of Saul in I Samuel chapter 10.  The impact of these tumultuous times will linger long after that.  Sin’s deadly effects linger long. 

Our hymn today is part of a setting of Psalm 68 that dates back to at least 1865 in “The Psalms of David” published in Philadelphia by the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America.  No author is given.  Why choose this text?  Because it mentions “little Benjamin”.  The tribe of Benjamin remained much smaller than the other tribes after the civil war in the closing chapters of Judges.  That is about the best I can do to find a hymn that is even tangentially based on our reading today.

17 God’s chariots twenty thousand are,
thousands on thousands strong;
Sinai is in the holy place,
the Lord is them among.

18 Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious,
ascended up on high;
and in triumph victorious led
captive captivity:
thou hast received gifts for men,
for such as did rebel;
yea, even for them, that God the Lord
in midst of them might dwell.

19 Blessed be the Lord, who is to us
of our salvation God;
who daily with his benefits
us plenteously doth load.
20 He of salvation is the God,
who is our God most strong;
and unto God the Lord from death
the issues do belong.

21 But surely God shall wound the head
of those that are his foes;
the hairy scalp of him that still
on in his trespass goes.
22 The Lord hath said, I will bring back
again from Bashan hill;
yea, from the dark depths of the sea
bring back again I will.

23 That in the blood of enemies
thy foot imbrued may be,
and of thy dogs dipped in the same
the tongues thou mayest see.
24 Thy goings they have seen, O God;
the steps of majesty
of my God, and my mighty King,
within the sanctuary.

25 Before went singers, after them
the players took their way;
in midst of damsels that with skill
did on the timbrels play.
26 Within the congregations great
bless God with one accord;
ye who from Israel’s fountain are,
bless ye the mighty Lord.

27 Their ruler, little Benjamin,
and Judah's princes high,
the chiefs of Zabulon, are there,
and chiefs of Naphtali.
28 Thy God commands thy strength; make strong
what thou wrought’st for us, Lord.
29 For thy house at Jerusalem
kings shall thee gifts afford.

30 The beast that dwelleth in the reeds,
the bulls that fiercely look,
with herd of calves, the people all,
do thou, O Lord, rebuke,
till every one submit himself,
and silver pieces bring:
the people that delight in war
disperse, O God and King.

31 Those that be princes great shall then
come from Egypt lands;
and Ethiopia to God
shall soon stretch out her hands.
32 O all ye kingdoms of the earth,
sing praises to this King;
for he is Lord that ruleth all,
unto him praises sing.

33 To him that rides on heavens of heavens,
which he of old did found;
lo, he sends out his voice, a voice
in might that doth abound.
34 Strength unto God do ye ascribe,
because his majesty
is over Israel, his strength
is in the clouds most high.

35 Dread art thou from thy temple, Lord;
Israel’s own God is he,
who gives his people strength and pow’r:
O let God blessed be.