Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 20:42

Therefore they turned [their backs] before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which [came] out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.

42. unto the way of the wilderness ] in the direction of the barren hilly region, E. of Gibeah, which descends from the Central Highlands to the Jordan valley.

out of the cities ] i.e. the Benjamite cities on the line of the flight. But all the male Benjamites had been out with the army, and most of them killed: so read out of the city, i.e. Gibeah; the reference will then be to the men who formed the ambush. For in the midst thereof (lit. of him) read in the midst, as Jos 8:22. The Benjamites suddenly found themselves caught between Israelites in front and rear. The men of Ai were intercepted in the same way.

The verse comes from the B narrative: cf. Jdg 20:21 ; Jdg 20:25 destroyed them. With the correction of the text the marg. becomes unnecessary.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

The way of the wilderness – i. e., the wilderness which extended from Jericho to the hills of Bethel.

Them which came out of the cities – These must be the Benjamites Jdg 20:15. Hence, in the midst of them must mean in their own cities, where they severally fled for refuge, but failed to find shelter Jdg 20:48. Anathoth, Alemath, Ramah, Ataroth, Geba, Michmash, Ai, Bethel, Migron, etc., would probably be the cities meant, all lying east and north of Gibeah.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

The battle, i.e. the men of battle or war; the abstract for the concrete, as poverty, 2Ki 24:14, pride, Psa 36:11, deceit, Pro 12:5, dreams, Jer 27:9, election, Rom 11:7, are put for persons that are poor, proud, deceitful, dreamers, elect. Them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them: so the sense may seem to be this, That the Israelites did not only kill the inhabitants of Gibeah, and all the Benjamites that came into the field against them, six hundred excepted; but in the midst of them, or together with them, they killed also the rest of the Benjamites, who, when they saw their army was wholly destroyed, made haste to flee out of their several cities or towns, that so they might escape the sword, which was coming towards them. But the words may be rendered thus: And them who were of the other cities, to wit, of Benjamin, i.e. who abode in their own cities and did not go up to Gibeah,

they destroyed in the midst of them, i.e. in their several cities; or, in the midst of it, i.e. of every city; for so it is said, Jdg 20:48, where it is said that they smote the men of every city. But this I submit to the learned.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel,…. And fled from them:

unto the way of the wilderness; what wilderness is not certain, perhaps the wilderness of Judah; they did not turn directly back towards Gibeah, perceiving that was taken, and in the hands of a body of men that would meet them, and therefore they turned on one side towards the wilderness, if happily they could make their escape thither, and shelter themselves:

but the battle overtook them; that is, they that made war, as the Targum, the Israelites that were engaged in battle with them pursued them, and overtook them:

and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them; either the Israelites that came out of their cities to assist their brethren destroyed the Benjaminites as they fled, or the Benjaminites who came out of other cities to Gibeah, these were destroyed in the midst of it with the inhabitants, by the liers in wait, when they entered it.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(42) Unto the way of the wilderness.The wilderness is that known as the wilderness of Bethaven ( Jos. 18:12). It is described in Joshua 16 as the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout Mount Bethel. (See Robinson, Bibl. Res. 1:572.) The first thought of fugitives in Eastern Palestine was to get to one of the fords of the Jordan (2Sa. 15:23; 2Ki. 25:4-5).

Them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.This obscure clause is rendered differently in different versions. If the English Version be correct, as it probably is, the meaning must be that the Benjamites fled to their own cities, and were pursued thither and slain by the Israelites.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

42. Way of the wilderness The wild mountainous country northeast of Gibeah.

Them which came out of the cities That is, the old men, women, and children, that fled for their lives out of the cities of Benjamin.

In the midst of them Rather, in the midst of it; that is, the wilderness.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jdg 20:42 a ‘Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel, into the way of the wilderness, but the battle followed hard after them.’

The Benjaminites saw no alternative but to flee for their lives into the rough country, for the highways would just lead them into enemy forces, but it did them no good for their pursuers were relentless. They chased them hard and slew them one by one.

Jdg 20:42 b ‘And those who came out of the cities they destroyed them in its midst.’

This may refer to the other Israelite forces coming out of Gibeah, and who, having captured other ‘cities’ as well, now attacked the fleeing Benjaminites, or it may refer to other Israelites who left their cities to join in the fight, or it may refer to remnants of Benjaminites (most had been with the main force) who came from their cities to join in and were destroyed in the midst of the wilderness. For all Benjamin knew that, having rebelled against the tribal covenant and the tribal federation in defence of those specifically sentenced to death by the confederacy, they were liable to The Ban. They could expect no mercy. They were brothers who had betrayed the brotherhood, and feelings were running high.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Jdg 20:42-43. But the battle overtook them, &c. Houbigant renders this, but the battle overtook them, from the liers in wait, who came, surrounded them, and destroyed them on every side; moreover they pursued them, and trod them under foot, from Noah, even to the east side of Gibeah. See his note.

REFLECTIONS.Confounded at their repeated losses, the whole congregation assemble before the Lord at Shiloh. 1. In deep affliction they compass God’s altar, humbling their souls under a sense of conscious guilt, and crying for pardon and help from him who alone can save either body or soul from ruin. They offer sacrifices of atonement, and peace-offerings; and having now rejected every vain confidence, and inquired of God, not only whether they should go up, but whether they should succeed, God gives them assurance of victory, and bids them draw near to the battle. Note; (1.) When in true humiliation the soul is brought low before God, the end of its suffering is near. (2.) It is by the one great sacrifice alone, that the sinner can hope for the favour and presence of God.

2. On the divine warrant, they now draw near to the battle, and with a success equal to their most sanguine wishes. Having contrived an ambush near Gibeah, as at Ai, the army advances; but when the Benjamites come forth they retire precipitately. The Benjamites, concluding that they were smitten as before, eagerly pursue, and about thirty men are slain in the retreat. But now the men of Gibeah and Benjamin being at a distance, the ambush arises, and the defenceless city is seized and burnt. At the sight of the ascending smoke, the signal given, the men of Israel face about at Baal-tamar: the battle is renewed; the Benjamites look back, and too late discover the evil which had overtaken them. They are attacked in front and rear at once, routed with ease, and, hemmed in as they are, flight is vain. Eighteen thousand are slain on the spot; five thousand in the pursuit, and two thousand at Gidom, a place to which they had fled, or where they made a stand. Thus the very name of Benjamin had been blotted out, if six hundred men had not escaped to the rock Rimmon; for, in their heat, or for their oath’s sake in Mizpeh, they fell upon the cities, burnt them, slew men, women, and children, and every living creature, as they had done by the devoted Canaanites, and left the land swept as with the besom of destruction. Note; (1.) What desolation does sin make on the earth! (2.) It is in vain to fight where God is our foe, or to fly when he pursues. (3.) When God awakes to judgment in the last day, not a sinner shall escape; no rock can then hide, no mountain cover him.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Therefore they turned [their backs] before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which [came] out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.

Ver. 42. In flying from death, they fled to it. Una salus victis, &c.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)