Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 20:13
Now therefore deliver [us] the men, the children of Belial, which [are] in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
13. deliver up the men that we may put them to death ] Similarly 1Sa 11:12.
the sons of Belial ] See on Jdg 19:22.
put away evil ] Read the evil, lit. burn up, consume the evil; a frequent expression in Deut., e.g. Deu 13:5, Deu 17:7; Deu 17:12, Deu 22:22.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 13. Deliver us the men] Nothing could be fairer than this. They wish only to make the murderers answerable for their guilt.
Benjamin would not hearken] Thus making their whole tribe partakers of the guilt of the men of Gibeah. By not delivering up those bad men, they in effect said: “We will stand by them in what they have done, and would have acted the same part had we been present.” This proves that the whole tribe was excessively depraved.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Put away evil; both the guilt and the punishment, wherein all Israel will be involved, if they do not punish it.
The children of Benjamin would not hearken; partly, from the pride of their hearts, which made them scorn to submit it, their brethren, or to suffer them to meddle in their territory; partly, from the conceit of their own valour and military skill; and partly, from Gods just judgment.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Now, therefore, deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah,…. Those wicked men that were the authors of that abominable wickedness there committed:
that we may put them to death; as they deserved, since they were guilty both of adultery and murder; their meaning is, that they in conjunction with the tribe of Benjamin might condemn them to death and punish them with it, as their crime deserved:
and put away evil from Israel; prevent both the spread of such a sinful evil in the nation, encouraged by such examples, and the evil of punishment coming upon them from God, should they let such wickedness pass with impunity:
but the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel; they refused to give up the men of Gibeah, that had been guilty of such great wickedness; reckoning it a reproach, as Josephus f says, to obey the commands of others, for fear of war, and unwilling to yield to any in arms, neither on account of multitude nor courage.
f Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 9.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(13) The children of Benjamin would not hearken.They were actuated by the same bad spirit of solidarity which has often made Highland clans defend a member of their body who has committed some grave outrage. That they should have preferred an internecine civil war to the giving up their criminals illustrates the peculiarly fierce character of the tribe (Gen. 49:27). Their determination to hold out against united Israel is analogous to the courage in a bad cause of the Phocians in the sacred wars of Greece (Grote, iv. 85).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. Benjamin would not hearken Here was amazing perversity. For a whole tribe to assume the responsibility of the crime of Gibeah, and fight to defend it, was another folly in Israel. But the measures taken to punish the crime, from their fierceness and suddenness, were not calculated to conciliate, but rather to provoke the Benjamites to war, and thus was brought to pass the saying of Jacob: “Benjamin shall raven as a wolf.” Gen 49:27.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jdg 20:13 Now therefore deliver [us] the men, the children of Belial, which [are] in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
Ver. 13. And put away evil from Irsael. ] Both the evil of sin and the evil of punishment: for these two are inseparable companions Flagitium et flagellum sunt sicut acus et filum.
Would not hearken to the voice of their brethren.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
deliver: 2Sa 20:21, 2Sa 20:22
children of Belial: Jdg 19:22, Deu 13:13, 1Sa 30:22, 2Sa 20:1, 2Sa 23:6, 1Ki 21:13, 2Ch 13:7
put away: Deu 17:7, Deu 17:12, Deu 19:19, Deu 21:21, Deu 22:21, Deu 22:24, Deu 24:7, Ecc 11:10
would not: 1Sa 2:25, 2Ch 25:16, 2Ch 25:20, Pro 29:1, Hos 9:9, Hos 10:9, Rom 1:32, Rev 18:4, Rev 18:5, The conduct of the Israelites was very equitable in this demand; but perhaps the rulers or elders of Gibeah ought previously to have been applied to, to deliver up the criminals to justice. However, the refusal of the Benjamites, and their protection of those who had committed this horrible wickedness, because they were of their own tribe, prove them to have been deeply corrupted, and – all their advantages consideredas ripe for divine vengeance as the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah had been. Confiding in their own valour and military skill, they seen to have first prepared for battle in this unequal contest with such superior numbers.
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 20:13. That we may put away evil from Israel Both the guilt and punishment wherein all Israel will be involved if they do not punish it. The children of Benjamin would not hearken From the pride of their hearts, which made them scorn to submit to their brethren; from a conceit of their own valour; and from Gods just judgment. Certainly the degeneracy among them must have been very great, and it is probable the offenders might be men of considerable rank and power, which made the Benjamites refuse to deliver them up.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
20:13 Now therefore deliver [us] the men, the children of Belial, which [are] in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin {i} would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
(i) Because they would not allow the wicked to be punished, they declared themselves in agreement with their evil, and therefore all were justly punished.