Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 20:46
So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valor.
46. For the total here cf. on Jdg 20:35. This and the preceding verse appear to be, not fragments from the B narrative, but editorial additions: the first part of Jdg 20:45 is borrowed from Jdg 20:47, the figures in Jdg 20:46 are obtained by adding up those in Jdg 20:44 (from A) and 45; contrast B’s total in Jdg 20:35.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In Jdg 20:35 the number given is 25,100. Jdg 20:44-46 give the details of the loss on that day: 18,000, 5,000, and 2,000; in all 25,000. But as the Benjamites numbered 26,700 men Jdg 20:15, and 600 escaped to the rock of Rimmon, it is clear that 1,100 are unaccounted for, partly from no account being taken of those who fell in the battles of the two first days, partly from the use of round numbers, or from some other cause. The numbers given both here and in Jdg 20:35 are expressly restricted to those who fell on that (the third) day.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Twenty and five thousand, besides the odd hundred expressed Jdg 20:35; but here only the great number is expressed, the less being omitted, as inconsiderable; which way of numbering is frequent in Scripture, as Jdg 11:26; 2Sa 5:5, and in other authors, and in vulgar use; as when they are called the seventy interpreters, who in truth and exactness were seventy-two. Here are also a thousand more omitted, because here he speaks only of them who fell in that third day of battle. See Poole “Jdg 20:15“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
46. all which fell that day ofBenjamin were twenty and five thousand menOn comparing thiswith Jud 20:35, it will be seenthat the loss is stated here in round numbers and is confined only tothat of the third day. We must conclude that a thousand had fallenduring the two previous engagements, in order to make the aggregateamount given (Jud 20:15).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and thousand men,…. It is before said 25,100 Jud 20:35 here the one hundred are omitted, and the round number of thousands given, which is no unusual way of speaking and writing; the whole army of Benjamin consisted of 26,700 of which 18,000 were slain in the field of battle, 5000 in the highways, and 2000 at Gidom, in all 25,000; and we may suppose one hundred as they were straggling in the road, or found in by places, or are not mentioned with either of the thousands for the sake of a round number, and six hundred fled to the rock Rimmon; as for the other 1000, it is highly probable, they fell in the two first battles, as Ben Gersom and Abarbinel rightly suppose; for it is not credible, that though they got such amazing victories, it was without the loss of men, and these are as few as well can be imagined. Jarchi thinks these thousand fled to the cities of Benjamin, and were slain when the Israelites entered them, as after related, Jud 20:48 which is much more probable than a tradition they have, that they went into the land of Romania, and dwelt there. Now all those that were slain were men
that drew the sword; soldiers, not husbandmen, artificers, c. but armed men:
all these were men of valour even those that fled, who chose rather to lose their lives than ask for quarter.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(46) Twenty and five thousand men.Eighteen thousand killed in battle, 5,000 on the paved roads (mesilloth), 2,000 near Rimmon, 600 survivors, makes 25,600. But as the Benjamites were 26,700 (see Jdg. 20:15), either the total in Jdg. 20:15 is wrong, or we must make the much more natural supposition that 1,000 Benjamites, as against 40,000 Israelites (which would only be 1 to 36), had fallen in the two first battles.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
46. All these were men of valour The brave Benjamites, though conquered at last, compelled the victors to acknowledge their heroism and valour. On the number of the slain, see note on Jdg 20:35.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty five eleph men that drew the sword. All these were men of valour.’
Compare Jdg 20:35. Twenty five of the twenty six military units were destroyed in battle and pursuit. The remaining unit was presumably destroyed defending Gibeah, or possibly in the previous battles.
The twenty five eleph is made up of eighteen eleph destroyed in the battle and the initial flight, the five eleph who were gleaned in the highways and the two eleph destroyed at Gidom. The remaining unit and the seven hundred men from Gibeah were destroyed in the first two battles or the defence of Gibeah, or were partly among the six hundred who reached Rimmon. None of the figures are literally exact, they are all round numbers intended to indicate scale rather than exact quantity. And if eleph means military unit or clan or family this is even more sure.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 20:46 So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valour.
Ver. 46. Twenty and five thousand. ] Besides a thousand slain in the two former battles; for war is utrinque triste, sad on both sides.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
twenty: Jdg 20:15, Jdg 20:35
Reciprocal: Jdg 8:10 – fell an hundred 1Sa 9:21 – a Benjamite
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 20:46. Twenty and five thousand Besides the odd hundred expressed Jdg 20:35; but here only the great number is mentioned, the less being omitted, as inconsiderable. Here are also a thousand more omitted, because he speaks only of them who fell in that third day of battle.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
20:46 So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were {y} twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valour.
(y) Besides eleven hundred that had been slain in the previous battles.