They treated Benjamin as devoted to utter destruction, as Jericho had been Jos 6:17, Jos 6:21, and the whole tribe was all but actually extirpated. We see in the punishment inflicted the same ferocity which marked both the crime and the Levites mode of requiring vengeance.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Having destroyed those that came to Gibeah, and into the field, now they follow them home to their several habitations.

The men of every city; comprehensively taken, so as to include women and children. If this seem harsh and bloody, either it may be ascribed to military fury; or rather, it may be justified; partly, from that high guilt brought upon the whole tribe, in which it is no wonder if their infants suffered, which was not unusual in such cases, as Num 31:17; 1Sa 15:3; Jos 7:15; partly, from that command of God in a parallel case, Deu 13:15; and partly, from that solemn oath by which they had anathematized or devoted to death all that came not up to Mizpeh, Jdg 21:5, which none of the Benjamites did; for which cause also they destroyed all the men, women, and children of Jabesh-gilead, Jdg 21:10.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

48. the men of Israel turned againupon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of theswordThis frightful vengeance, extending from Gibeah to thewhole territory of Benjamin, was executed under the impetuous impulseof highly excited passions. But doubtless the Israelites were onlythe agents of inflicting the righteous retributions of God; and thememory of this terrible crisis, which led almost to the exterminationof a whole tribe, was conducive to the future good of the wholenation.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin,…. After they had destroyed their army, the city of Gibeah, and the inhabitants of it: not content with this, in their wrath and fury, turned and went,

and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city; even men, women, and children, in every city of Benjamin, at least all that lay in their way; and which they might do to be avenged on them, for sending out their militia against them, which had made such a slaughter among them to the loss of 40,000 men, or to fulfil their oath, that such who came not to Mizpeh should be put to death; for which reason also the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead, as well as of the cities of Benjamin, were put to death, men, women, and children, dealing in the same severity with them as with the Canaanitish nations, or as with a city given to idolatry:

as the beast, and all that came to hand; spared no living creature, herds and flocks:

also they set on fire all the cities that they came unto; which belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, so exceedingly wroth were they with them, for protecting such that had been the authors of such abominable wickedness, and for the loss of the lives of so many valuable men.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(48) As well the men of every city, as the beast.The phrase is literally, from the city, men down to beast, reading methim, men, for methom, entire. The dreadful meaning which lies beyond these short and simple words is the absolute extermination of a whole tribe of Israel, MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, CITIES AND CATTLE, with the exception of 600 fugitives. There is something almost inconceivably horrible and appalling in the thought of thousands of poor women and innocent children ruthlessly butchered in cold blood in this internecine war between brother Israelites. The whole tribe were placed under the ban of extirpation, as though they had been Canaanites, just as mercilessly as Sihon and his people had been extirpated (Deu. 2:34; Deu. 13:15-16), or Jericho (Jos. 6:17; Jos. 6:21), or Ai (Jos. 8:25-26). Their feelings were doubtless exasperated by the fearful destruction which Benjamin had inflicted upon them, as well as by religious horror at the conduct of the tribe; and for the rest, we can only say that the times of this ignorance God winked at. The good side of the deed lies in its motive: it expressed an intense horror against moral pollution. The evil side lay in its ruthless savagery. In both aspects it agrees both with the recorded and the traditional character of Phinehas (Num. 25:8; Num. 31:6). (See Note on Jdg. 11:39.)

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

48. Israel turned again upon Benjamin Turned upon the old men, women, and children that remained unarmed and helpless in the cities; and smote men and cattle together, and burned the cities, just as they had done when warring with the idolatrous or Canaanites.

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

‘ And the men of Israel turned again on the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city and the cattle and all that they found. Moreover all the cities that they found they burned with fire.’

Now began that most dreadful of events, the carrying out of The Ban. This was partly based on Deu 8:19-20 (compare Jos 23:15) although there it was God Who would bring it about. It was what God had declared on the Canaanites (Deu 7:2; Deu 20:16-18), and these Benjaminites turned Canaanite were seen as deserving it too. Everything was to be destroyed, every living Benjaminite exterminated. They had wrought folly in Israel.

From city to city they went, killing with their swords every living person, old men, women and children, and then destroying all domestic beasts and every possession. The cities were burned to the ground. Nothing was to be left. Seemingly it took about four months (Jdg 20:47). This was the punishment for betrayal of the covenant and rejection of the authority of the tribal confederacy to which by oath they belonged (compare Jdg 21:8-10). It was an object lesson to all the members of the confederacy as to what would happen to them if they betrayed their brothers. And the six hundred men were cooped up in the Rock of Rimmon knowing what was happening to their wives and children. But in the end this was the consequence of the behaviour of the men of Gibeah and the unwillingness of God’s people in Benjamin to do anything about it.

What lessons do we learn from this passage of Scripture?

Firstly, that God is holy and requires full payment for sin. The men of Gibeah had committed crimes which required the death penalty, for there were no reliable prisons where they could be given life imprisonment. It was necessary that those penalties be exacted.

Secondly that breach of a covenant with God is a serious matter. God will act to preserve its integrity. If we treat sin lightly then we must expect God’s judgment, whether now or delayed. It was not God Who chose the manner of punishment. This was decided by man on the basis of custom. But they had God’s general support because their aims were in the right.

Thirdly that if we are faithless in our behaviour we cannot expect God to act on our behalf. God is not mocked.

Fourthly that if we repent of our sins then He will forgive us and begin to act for us.

With regard to the final consequences (which no one today would try to exact) we must remember the world in which these people lived. The covenant was the basis of their security. It was also in their eyes the guarantee of the graciousness of their God towards them. The whole safety of their families and the nation depended on everyone being faithful to their commitment to it. If one member failed it could bring disaster on all. Thus the penalty for such unfaithfulness was total.

And they all accepted the fact, otherwise no one would be able to rely on a covenant. And then they would be on their own in a very hostile world. And in this case the Benjaminites had not only failed to maintain the covenant, they had actually fought others who had tried to preserve it. They were doubly guilty.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.

What an awful catastrophe doth the close of the chapter form: and all arising from one and the same cause of sin! Oh! my soul, flee from the very approaches of sin, and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but may I come out from among them, and touch not the unclean thing: then will He be the Lord my God, and I shall be one among the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty, 2Co 6:17-18 .

REFLECTIONS

HERE let me learn, from the unanimity of Israel in a just cause, and the blessing of the Lord God upon them, how much it becomes the Israel of God, to unite in the suppression of sin, and in supporting the interest of Jesus in the world. Oh! for zeal for him, and his blessed cause, who hath so loved me as to give himself for me! Here blessed Jesus, give me grace to unite in heart and soul with all thy holy army, and to be valiant in thy cause. And ye soldiers of the Lamb! ye who wear the regimentals of Jesus, and profess to have put on his whole armor; let me speak to you, as the Levite did at Mizpeh, Behold! ye are children of Israel! Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Never give quarter to Satan but resist stedfast unto death, striving against sin and count not your life dear unto yourselves. So that you may finish your course with joy, and having fought the good fight of faith may lay hold of eternal life.

And ye men of Benjamin, shall I call you? my poor brethren in sin and transgression, oh! cast down your rebellious arms at the foot of the cross or flee, like the men at Rimmon, flee to Christ Jesus for shelter, while the opportunity of escape remains and while the door of salvation is open. Sweet is the voice, and most precious the promise – All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me, and him that cometh I will in no wise cast out

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Jdg 20:48 And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of [every] city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.

Ver. 48. And smote them with the edge. ] If this were done out of the heat and fury of war only, and not by the command of God, they were to blame. That once flourishing commonwealth of the Lacedemonians was likewise utterly overturned at the battle of Leuctra, by reason of a rape there committed by two noble Spartans upon the two daughters of Scedasus, who complained thereof to the Ephori, but could get no remedy.

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

the men = every one.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

smote them: Deu 13:15-17, 2Ch 25:13, 2Ch 28:6-9, Pro 18:19

came to hand: Heb. was found

they came to: Heb. were found

Reciprocal: Jdg 21:23 – repaired

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jdg 20:48. The men of Israel turned again, &c. Left their pursuit of the Benjamites in the wilderness, and turned toward the country of Benjamin. Those that came to Gibeah and into the field, whom the Israelites had already destroyed, were men that drew the sword, that is, soldiers. But there were a great many husbandmen, shepherds, and others, whom, in their fury, they now slew. And all that came to hand Even women and children. For they had devoted to destruction all that came not up to Mizpeh, when they were summoned, (Jdg 21:5,) which none of the Benjamites did; for which reason they slew also the men, women, and children of Jabesh-gilead, Jdg 21:10. But this was certainly a most inhuman barbarity, expressly contrary to the laws of God, which had forbidden the innocent to be punished with the guilty, Deu 24:16.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

20:48 And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of [every] city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the {z} cities that they came to.

(z) If they belonged to the Benjamites.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes