SCRIPTURE: JUDGES 20
ISRAELITES FIGHT THE BENJAMITES (vs. 1-48)
The Levite, the husband of the murdered concubine told the Israelites that when they came to Gibeah in Benjamin, men of Gibeah came to surround the house. They raped his concubine and she died. Then he cut off the concubine into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israelites inheritance.
All the people were angry and agreed to fight against the men of Gibeah in Benjamin to give them what they deserved. So, they got up together and united as one against the Benjamites,. The tribes of Israel sent men to the tribe of Benjamin telling them to surrender those wicked men to purge the evil, but they refused. Instead, the Benjamite mobilized 26 thousand swordsmen plus 700 chosen men who were lefthanded but could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. Israel mustered 400 thousand swordsmen with Judah going first to fight. The battle started and the Benjamites cut down 22 thousand at first. Then they cut down another 18 thousand armed with swords. Then, the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel and sept before the Lord. They fasted until evening and presented burn offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. They inquired from the Lord if they shall go up again to battle with the Benjamites or not. The Lord responded with affirmation to go and He promised them victory against the Benjamites. So, Israel set an ambush around Gilbeah. They struck down 25,100 Benjamites all around with swords. The men of Israel had arranged with the ambush to sent up a great cloud of smoke from the city before the town in the battle. When the cloud of smoke was turn on, the Benjamites were terrified. They fled to desert but were being cut off. Eighteen thousand Benjamites valiant fighters fell. They also cut down 5,000 men along the road and stuck down 2,000 more. On that day, 25,000 Benjamites swordsmen fell. But 600 men fled into the desert to the rock of Remmon and stayed for 4 months. The men of Israel went back to Benjamin and put all the towns to the sword including the animals and everything. Then they set them on fire..
THOUGHTS:
The leaders of Benjamites refused to turn in the evil men that committed the crime. They defended their wrongdoings and covered up their crime. As a result, they were being defeated. God’s people today need to deal with sin thru confession and repentance. Unconfessed sins are like uncontrollable diseases that spread and kill. Charles Spurgeon described sin as: a)-the mother of all sins; b)-the egg of all all mischief; c)-the fountain of all bitterness and d)-the root of misery. So, before the unresolved problem turned into major conflict, firm action must be taken quickly and forcefully before a situation gets out of hand.