Then all (KJV): Jud 20:2,8,11 21:5 De 13:12-18 Jos 22:12
as one man (KJV): 1Sa 11:7,8 2Sa 19:14 Ezr 3:1 Ne 8:1
from Dan (KJV): Jud 18:29 1Sa 3:20 2Sa 3:10 24:2 1Ch 21:2 2Ch 30:5
with the (KJV): Nu 32:1,40 Jos 17:1 2Sa 2:9
unto the (KJV): Jud 20:18,26 11:11
in Mizpeh (KJV): Jud 10:17 11:11 Jos 15:38 18:26 1Sa 7:5,6 10:17 2Ki 25:23 It does not appear that the Israelites on this occasion, were summoned by the authority of any one common head, but they came together by the consent and agreement, as it were, of one common heart, fired with a holy zeal for the honour of God and Israel. The place of their meeting was Mizpeh; they gathered together unto the Lord there; for Mizpeh was so very near to Shiloh, that their encampment might very well be supposed to reach from Mizpeh to Shiloh. Shiloh was a small town, and therefore, when there was a general meeting of the people to present themselves before God, they chose Mizpeh for their head quarters, which was the next adjoining city of note; perhaps, because they were not willing to give that trouble to Shiloh, which so great an assembly would occasion; it being the residence of the priests that attended the tabernacle.

Predictably, since they did not inquire of what God would have them do, the nation reacted from their fleshly instinct with burning indignation (v30). After all they must have reasoned the Israelites had been guilty of numerous sins since the Exodus, but never of anything so repulsive as this. They needed to appraise the situation and then plan a course of action. As in the case of Saul's appeal in [1Sa11:7], the nation "came out as one man" (20:1). They came even from the distant borders of Israel, including many from Gilead in Transjordan.

drew sword (KJV): Jud 20:15,17 8:10 2Sa 24:9 2Ki 3:26

 CHIEFS (Hebrew "corner, cornerstone") OF ALL THE PEOPLE: Israel was "the people of God", though the actions of Benjamin belied that title. The leaders bore the solemn responsibility of meting out the proper punishment for the crime, and a large army supported them.

the children of Benjamin (KJV): Pr 22:3 Mt 5:25 Lu 12:58,59 14:31,32
how was (KJV): Jud 19:22-27

X

the Levite (KJV): Heb. the man the Levite
I came (KJV): Jud 19:15-28

SO THE LEVITE, THE HUSBAND OF THE WOMAN WHO WAS MURDERED ANSWERED AND SAID: note "I" and "me" repetitively...a self-serving speech that presented his case in the best possible light.

I CAME WITH MY CONCUBINE TO SPEND THE NIGHT AT GIBEAH WHICH BELONGS TO BENJAMIN: so far he is telling the truth. But if the "people of God" had God as their King and had not been doing what is right in their own eyes, they would have confronted the sin of this Levite who was to be HOLY to the LORD, wholly His (Nu8:16) and was to have nothing to do with a harlot (his concubine had committed harlotry although the Levite does not appear to have related these truths).

And the men (KJV): Jud 19:22
beset (KJV): Ge 19:4-8
and my concubine (KJV): Jud 19:25,26
forced (KJV): Heb. humbled, De 22:24 Eze 22:10,11

BUT THE MEN OF GIBEAH ROSE UP AGAINST ME AND SURROUNDED THE HOUSE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF ME THEY INTENDED TO KILL ME: This is not exactly what they intended to do...they intended to rape him homosexually.

INSTEAD, THEY RAVISHED MY CONCUBINE SO THAT SHE DIED: The Levite leaves out the detail that it was he who grasped (Lxx uses verb that pictures seizing her himself, so he is hardly innocent in this rape/murder...his hands were stained with her blood & the ground cries out for ) his concubine and "volunteered" her to the worthless men, instead of defending her life.

cut her (KJV): Jud 19:29
folly in Israel (KJV): Jud 20:10 19:23 Ge 34:7 Jos 7:15 2Sa 13:12,13

“Disgraceful” is nebala, a strong term for active moral rebellion against the divine standards, as in rape (2Sa13:14), homosexual acts (Jud19:23,24) and general promiscuity (Deut. 22:21). While the Levite was mute about his own role in the affair, the acts of the Gibeahites merited death under OT Law (cf. Jud20:13).

ye are all (KJV): Ex 19:5,6 De 4:6 14:1,2 1Co 5:1,6,10-12
give here (KJV): Jud 19:30 Jos 9:14 Pr 20:18 24:6 Jas 1:5

It may well have been that drastic action was called for, but what would become of Israel when its assembly could be convened and manipulated by a person of such dubious morals as this Levite? That is the serious question posed by this second episode.

as one man (KJV): Jud 20:1,11
We will not (KJV): Jud 21:1,5 Pr 21:3 Ec 9:10

THEN ALL THE PEOPLE AROSE AS ONE MAN (20:1): Keep in mind that this event took place early in the period of the Judges, at a time when the nation wasn’t under foreign oppression. Though they had no central government, the tribes were still united and able to muster troops and wage war together.

SAYING NOT ONE OF US WILL GO TO HIS TENT (cp 21:1) NOR WILL ANY OF US RETURN TO HIS HOUSE: this tantamount to declaring a "vow" even though it is not expressly stated as such. The Israelites took an oath to see this through to the end.

by lot against it (KJV): Jos 14:2 1Sa 14:41,42 1Ch 24:5 Ne 11:1 Pr 16:33 Jon 1:7 Ac 1:26

Objects were cast on the ground or drawn from a container as a means of seeking guidance from God (cf. Jos18:6; Pr 16:33).

ten thousand (KJV): or, myriad, Ge 24:60

X

THUS ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL WERE GATHERED AGAINST THE CITY, UNITED (KJV "knit together") AS ONE MAN: 3rd time expression "as one man" (cf. v1, 8). The Israelites were knit together as a unit, in marked contrast to the days of Deborah and Barak (5:15-17) which also supports this event in Jdg20-21 occurring very early after Joshua & the elders died. When godly leaders die the leaven of sin spreads like wildfire inflaming the lusts of men's unredeemed, unregenerate flesh nature! (cp 1Co10:13).

sent men (KJV): De 13:14 20:10 Jos 22:13-16 Mt 18:15-18 Ro 12:18

X

deliver (KJV): 2Sa 20:21,22
children of Belial (KJV): Jud 19:22 De 13:13 1Sa 30:22 2Sa 20:1 23:6 1Ki 21:13 2Ch 13:7
put away (KJV): De 17:7,12 19:19 21:21 22:21,24 24:7 Ec 11:10
would not (KJV): 1Sa 2:25 2Ch 25:16,20 Pr 29:1 Ho 9:9 10:9 Ro 1:32 Rev 18:4,5 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 considered) as 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.

NOW THEN, DELIVER UP THE MEN, THE WORTHLESS FELLOWS (same phrase "sons of belial, Jdg19:22) IN GIBEAH (Ho9:9, 10:9) : Even though they had failed to consult God & were doing what was right in their own eyes, at this time they only wanted those directly guilty of the crime. The sin of the men of Gibeah called for the death penalty, and Israel had to punish the sin which would purge out the evil influence and would cause others to fear committing similar abomination

REMOVE THIS WICKEDNESS FROM ISRAEL: Note this same Hebrew combination (ba'ar ra') "remove or purge the evil" is found at least 9x in Deut. Sadly the Israelites did not see the evil that pervaded their own community and this "sin in their camp" (toleration of the sin of the Levite) may have been the cause of their powerless the first 2 battles.

BUT THE SONS OF BENJAMIN WOULD NOT LISTEN (hearken) TO THE VOICE OF THEIR BROTHERS THE SONS OF ISRAEL: Like many today (even in the church), the Benjaminites were unable to accept reproof. And so they would have to learn the disastrous hard way. (Pr 29:1, 6:15). Their refusal to cooperate was definitely an act of rebellion against the Lord. By coming to the aid of Gibeah rather than joining in the punishment of that city the tribe identified with the wicked men and merited their punishment. When sin isn’t exposed, confessed, and punished, it pollutes society and defiles the land. The wicked men of Gibeah were like a cancerous tumor in the body that had to be cut out. (1Co5:6, 15:33)

In our own life it is impossible altogether to avoid contact with such people. Indeed, to do so, as the Apostle says truly, we must go out of the world. But we can abstain from their friendship and company. It is an altogether different thing to have dealings with a worldly man in business, and to admit him into bosom fellowship and comradeship in our leisure hours. The first is permissible, but not the second; else our companions will seduce us from our loyalty to God. Beware of taking on the color of the ground on which you lie. “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”
 

Nu 20:20 21:23 2Ch 13:13 Job 15:25,26

There is not the slightest doubt as to the action the leaders of the tribe of Benjamin should have taken when they were confronted with the moral responsibility of the crime they allowed the citizens of Gibeah to perpetrate. Either they should have punished the offenders themselves or handed them over to the nation’s representatives, as demanded in verse 13. But they refused to do this, although the guilt of the men of Gibeah was proved beyond question. Instead, they chose to regard the accusation as a personal attack on the tribe and began to mobilize an army of twenty-six thousand men to defend the guilty. By way of application, we need to remember that there is no clearer indication of moral sickness than when wrongdoing is condoned or even defended on the grounds of family or national solidarity and loyalty...In our society...Sins are laundered verbally to make them acceptable, or at least tolerated, to art increasingly undisciplined populace. Adultery is redefined as “wife swapping” or “having an affair.” Homosexuality becomes “a gay lifestyle.” Theft at work is acceptable if it is “the perks of the job.” Lies are always “white,” the truth always “selective.” Greed is sanitized as “upward social mobility.” The examples are endless. The purpose is always the same—to remove my sense of moral guilt, and so to pretend that if something sounds OK and people feel comfortable with it, that’s all that matters. Whether it is in the TV ads or in the newspapers, the circumstances are glamorized and visual images of social acceptability, fun, wealth, and vitality are all used to anaesthetize the conscience, to pretend that “anything goes.”
This was the situation in Israel; but the lesson, then and now, is that a society that refuses to accept guilt, in the sense of distinguishing right from wrong and punishing the offender, will soon prove impossible to govern. Everyone will do what is right in his or her own eyes, and there will be no ultimate restraints. Might becomes right, and civilization ceases...The tragedy of Israel was that these symptoms were not dealt with when they first appeared, because there was no king. Those of us who are entrusted with authority within the biblical structures of home, church, or nation, have a heavy responsibility before God to use it responsibly in love to Him and to our neighbor." (Jackman, D., & Ogilvie, L. J.  Vol. 7: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Judges, Ruth. Page 285. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson)

twenty (KJV): Jud 20:25,35,46,47 Nu 26:41

lefthanded (KJV): {Itter yad yemeeno,} "obstructed in his right hand;" so the Chaldee Targum, {gemid beedaih deyammeena,} contracted or impeded in his right hand." Lev Clerc observes, that the 700 men left-handed seem therefore to have been made slingers, because they could not use the right hand, which is employed in managing heavier arms; and they could discharge the stones from the sling in a direction against which their opponents were not upon their guard, and thus do the greater execution. Jud 3:15 1Ch 12:2
sling stones (KJV): The sling was a very ancient warlike instrument; and, in the hands of those who were skilled in the use of it, produced astonishing effects. The inhabitants of the islands of Baleares, now Majorca and Minorca, were the most celebrated slingers of antiquity. They did not permit their children to break their fast, till they had struck down the bread they had to eat from the top of a pole, or some distant eminence. Vegetius tells us, that slingers could in general hit the mark at 600 feet distance. 1Sa 17:40,49,50 25:29 2Ch 26:14

The Hebrew verb for "MISS" is translated "to sin" in other contexts

four hundred (KJV): Jud 20:2 Nu 1:46 26:51 1Sa 11:8 15:4 1Ch 21:5 2Ch 17:14-18

The forces of Israel comprised a powerful army, the largest the nation had ever assembled!

house of (KJV): Jud 18:31 19:18 Jos 18:1 Joe 1:14
asked (KJV): Jud 20:7,23,26,27 1:1 Nu 27:5,21 Jos 9:14
Judah (KJV): Jud 1:1,2 Ge 49:8-10

The Benjamites undoubtedly deserved to be punished. But the moral and spiritual state of the nation as a whole was such that holy war almost destroyed it instead of preserving it. The Lord appears to be as angry with the rest of Israel as He is with the Benjamites, and He shows it by distributing defeat and victory in such a way that the whole of Israel is judged. He is both the Judge and preserver of His wayward people.

AND INQUIRED OF GOD (cp Jdg1:1): they had made their plans and now were asking God to bless them! Don't we all do this for time to time? The memory of God’s past guidance in the days of Joshua sends them to the shrine at Bethel, not to ask God what they should do, or seek His help, but to go through the religious motions of receiving the divine guidance and blessing. We already know that their motivation is revenge so they could not possibly expect God’s approval.

AND SAID, "WHO SHALL GO UP FIRST FOR US TO BATTLE AGAINST THE SONS OF BENJAMIN?":  how different the circumstances from the similar question of [Jdg1:1]! There it was a united Israel waging a war of occupation against the Canaanites. Here it is a divided Israel, fighting a civil war in which brother is pitted against brother (v28). The victory in answer to the first prayer was given at once (1:4). Here it is withheld until Israel is thoroughly broken and demoralized (v26-28). Indeed, the ‘holy’ war of this chapter scarcely rates as such. It was decided on at an assembly convened by a man of bad character, and it concluded in a bloodbath that reeked more of vengeful excess than of justice

THEN THE LORD SAID, "JUDAH...FIRST: This verse reminds the reader of [1:1, 2] and the fact that the Israelites were supposed to be fighting Canaanites rather than one another. However, the Benjamites had cast themselves in the role of Canaanites (cf. 21:1; Dt7:1-3).

rose up (KJV): Jos 3:1 6:12 7:16

Confident of victory, the Israelites moved their forces and equipment near Gibeah and lined up for battle. 

X

the children (KJV): Ge 49:27 Ho 10:9
destroyed (KJV): De 23:9 2Ch 28:10 Ps 33:16 73:18,19 77:19 Ec 9:1-3 Jer 12:1

X

encouraged (KJV): Jud 20:15,17 1Sa 30:6 2Sa 11:25 Ps 64:5

BUT THE PEOPLE, THE MEN OF ISRAEL, ENCOURAGED THEMSELVES AND ARRAYED FOR BATTLE AGAIN IN THE PLACE: in the same place where the former battle was fought, with the hope of retrieving their credit upon the same spot of ground where they had lost it, which they would not superstitiously change, as if there were any thing unlucky in the place.

WHERE THEY HAD ARRAYED THEMSELVES THE FIRST DAY: The startling defeat brought Israel to its knees. On other occasions such slaughter had followed blatant national sin (Nu25:6; Dt1:45, cp defeat at Ai - Jos7:3-5), and in this case there also appears to still be sin "in the camp" of Israel in that they did not deal with the Levite's blatant sin. Mark it down, when you go out to war with sin in the camp, the results will likely be disastrous. Israel as well as Benjamin needed to purge the evil from among themselves before they could go deal with the "speck that was in their brother's eye."

"What, and yet miscarry thus! 1. God’s judgments are a great deep, and his way is in the sea. Clouds and darkness are often round about him, but judgment and justice are always the habitation of his throne. We may be sure of the righteousness, when we cannot see the reasons, of God’s proceedings. 2. God would hereby show them, and us in them, that the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, that we are not to confide in numbers, which perhaps the Israelites did with too much assurance. We must never lay the weight on an arm of flesh, which only the Rock of ages will bear. 3. God designed hereby to correct Israel for their sins. They did well to show such a zeal against the wickedness of Gibeah: but were there not with them, even with them, sins against the Lord their God? Those must be made to know their own iniquity that are forward in condemning the iniquity of others."

X

destroyed (KJV): Jud 20:21 Ge 18:25 Job 9:12,13 Ps 97:2 Ro 2:5 3:5 11:33

God was very likely using these 2 defeats to humble the whole nation; this was not merely the result of the sin of one man (although in a sense it certainly did have it's inception with one man, a profane, unholy Levite, not living a life wholly given to God). The whole nation had to be humbled, because they first thought that "they" had a sin problem, but they came to see that "we" have a sin problem. Israel had to get the beam out of its own eye before it started dealing with the eye problem of the tribe of Benjamin (Mt7:3-5). 

all the children (KJV): Jud 20:18,23
wept (KJV): 1Sa 7:6 2Ch 20:3 Ezr 8:21 9:4,5 Joe 1:14 2:12-18 Jon 3:5-10

AND THEY OFFERED BURNT OFFERINGS: (Lv1:1-17) voluntary offering that speak of consecration. The burnt offering (Lv1) symbolized the complete consecration of the offerer to God. Fellowship offerings (Lv3), which included a meal, symbolized restored fellowship with God.

AND PEACE OFFERINGS BEFORE THE LORD: these offering speak of fellowship or communion with God.

inquired (KJV): Jud 20:18,23 Nu 27:21
the ark (KJV): Jos 18:1 1Sa 4:3,4 Ps 78:60,61 Jer 7:12 The loss of two battles at length brought this stiff-necked people to enquire of the Lord; for all the company at this time met at Shiloh, and kept a day of fasting and prayer with great earnestness and solemnity. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear." Isa 59:1

AND THE SONS OF ISRAEL INQUIRED OF THE LORD (FOR THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF GOD WAS THERE IN THOSE DAYS (1Sa1:3; 3:3 ):The only mention of the ark in Judges! In this period the ark was sometimes moved from the central sanctuary, especially in wartime (cf. 1Sa4:4-5 where, as here, the central sanctuary was at Shiloh).

The loss of two battles at length brought this stiff-necked people to enquire of the Lord; for all the company at this time met at Shiloh, and kept a day of fasting and prayer with great earnestness and solemnity. Isa 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Neither is His ear so dull That it cannot hear.

Phinehas (KJV): It is evident, from this mention of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, that these transactions must have taken place not long after the death of Joshua. Nu 25:7-13 Jos 22:13,30-32 24:33
stood (KJV): De 10:8 18:5
Shall I yet (KJV): Jos 7:7 1Sa 14:37 23:4-12 30:8 2Sa 5:19-24 6:3,7-12 Pr 3:5,6 Jer 10:23
Go up (KJV): Jud 1:2 7:9 2Ch 20:17

The fact that Phinehas was still serving as priest at the tabernacle at Shiloh indicates that this distressing series of events occurred soon after the death of Joshua and the elders that outlived Joshua, during the first anarchistic period in the land of Canaan (Jdg2:7-10). The rapid descent of the post-Joshua generation of Israelites into apostasy, immorality and inter-tribal warfare (illustrated in these last three chapters of the book of Judges) is a doleful commentary on the utter depravity of human nature (Cp Ro3:10, 18, 23, 7:18). Yet, despite it all, God was still merciful and ready to forgive.

Israel (KJV): Though God had promised them success, they knew they could expect it only by the use of proper means. Hence they used all prudent precaution, and employed all their military skill.
liers (KJV): Jud 20:34 Jos 8:4 2Sa 5:23

The ambush was a strategy successfully used by Joshua at Ai (where the Lord himself commanded the use of an ambush) (Jos8:2) and by Abimelech at Shechem (Jdg9:32, 33-44). 

X

drawn (KJV): Jos 8:14-16
smite of the people, and kill, as at (KJV): Heb. smite of the people wounded as at, etc
the house of God (KJV): or, Beth-el, Gibeah. Jud 19:13,14 Isa 10:29
thirty (KJV): Jos 7:5

Let us flee (KJV): This was done, not only because they had placed an ambuscade behind Gibeah, which was to enter and burn the city as soon as the Benjamites left it; but it would seem, that the slingers, by being within the city and its fortifications, had great advantage over the Israelites by their slings, when they could not come among them with their swords, unless they got them in the plain country. Jos 8:15,16

X

rose up (KJV): Jos 8:18-22
put themselves (KJV): There appear to have been three divisions of the Israelitish army: one at Baal-tamar, (which was situated, says Eusebius, near Gibeah;) a second behind the city in ambush; and a third, who skirmished with the Benjamites before Gibeah.

X

ten thousand (KJV): Jud 20:29
knew not (KJV): Jos 8:14 Job 21:13 Pr 4:19 29:6 Ec 8:11,12 9:12 Isa 3:10,11 Isa 47:11 Mt 24:44 Lu 21:34 21:34 1Th 5:3

Evil was near them and they did not know it,. But (v41) they saw, when it was too late to prevent it, that evil had come upon them. What evils may at any time be near us we cannot tell, but the less they are feared the heavier they fall. Sinners will not be persuaded to see evil near them, but how dreadful will it be when it comes and there is no escaping! [1Th5:3].

twenty (KJV): Jud 20:15,44-46 Job 20:5 Though the numbers of the Israelites were immensely superior to those of Benjamin, though the stratagem was well laid and ingeniously executed, and the battle bravely fought, yet the inspired historian ascribes the victory to the hand of the Lord, as entirely as if he had smitten the Benjamites by a miracle.

AND THE LORD STRUCK BENJAMIN BEFORE ISRAEL: Though the numbers of the Israelites were immensely superior to those of Benjamin, though the stratagem was well laid and ingeniously executed, and the battle bravely fought, yet the inspired historian ascribes the victory to the hand of the Lord, as entirely as if he had smitten the Benjamites by a miracle

SO THAT THE SONS OF ISRAEL DESTROYED 25,100 MEN OF BENJAMIN THAT DAY ALL WHO DRAW THE SWORD: Note God's sovereignty interacting once again with man's responsibility. It is an easy thing to trample upon those who have made God their enemy. See [Mal4:3].

And the Lord smote Benjamin before Israel. Judges 20.35

These words briefly recall the real mean­ing of the awful judgment that fell upon Benjamin. It was the stroke of God. The chapter gives the result of the considera­tion, taking counsel, and speaking, of the nation in answer to the call of the Levite. His action served its purpose. The nation was stirred to its centre. A great moral passion flamed out. Underneath all the degeneracy there was a very definite stratum of religious conviction, and it was this which, in the presence of the iniquity of the men of Gibeah, sprang to life and action, It is very remarkable how, in the case of nations backsliding from religious ideals, this is ever so. In the midst of the most soiled and debased times, in the presence of some more than usually violent manifestation of evil, the slumberingconvictions of a people will flame into new sensitiveness and demand recognition. In response to the ghastly and bloody appeal of the Levite, Israel gathered itself to­gether before God, seeking to know how to act. The low level of morality which had manifested itself in so fearful a form, could only be dealt with by general suffering. The men who were in the wrong were brutally defiant. Moreover, they were strong enough at first to defeat the army of Israel. This fact at least suggests that Israel was not clean enough her-self to punish wrongdoers. Again the people gathered before God, and this time in weeping and lamentation. After this, they again went forward, this time to victory and the sore punishment of the sinning people, and those who had con­doned their sin. Thus not Israel, but God, smote Benjamin. (Morgan, G. C. Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible).

for the men (KJV): Jos 8:15-29

X

the liers in wait hasted (KJV): Jos 8:19
drew themselves along (KJV): or, made a long sound with the trumpets, Ex 19:13 Jos 6:5

Now there (KJV): From this verse to the end of the chapter, we have the details of the same operations which are mentioned, in a general way, in the preceding verses of this chapter.
sign (KJV): or, time, Ge 17:21 2Ki 4:16 *marg:
and (KJV): Heb. with
flame (KJV): Heb. elevation

X

And when (KJV): Jud 20:31
smite and kill (KJV): Heb. smite the wounded

X

a pillar (KJV): Ge 19:28 Song 3:6 Joe 2:30 Rev 19:3
looked (KJV): Jos 8:20
flame (KJV): Heb. whole consumption

Moreover, the Benjamites’ end was like that of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah (Ge19:28).

were amazed (KJV): Ex 15:9,10 Isa 13:8,9 33:14 Lu 17:27,28 21:26 1Th 5:3 2Pe 2:12 Rev 6:15-17 18:8-10
was come upon them (KJV): Heb. touched them

They had sown the wind of evil and now were reaping a whirlwind of evil

the battle (KJV): La 1:3 Ho 9:9 10:9

They headed east toward the desert area extending from Bethel to Jericho (cf. Josh 16:1). Perhaps they hoped to cross the Jordan and escape into the deserts beyond, but the sheer numbers of Israelites made this impossible. The pursuing forces were augmented by men from nearby cities. Whenever Israel had the enemy on the run, it seemed that volunteers flocked to join in the pursuit. The Midianites (7:23-24) and Philistines (1Sa14:22) were also routed by rapidly growing armies.

enclosed (KJV): Jos 8:20-22
with ease (KJV): or, from Menuchah, etc
over against (KJV): Heb. unto over against

X

Rimmon (KJV): Jos 15:32 1Ch 6:77 Zec 14:10

THE REST TURNED AND FLED TOWARD THE WILDERNESS TO THE ROCK OF RIMMON (Jos15:32; 1Ch6:77; Zec14:10): "Pomegranate Rock" or "Roaring Rock." Rimmon was a conical limestone hill surrounded by wadis and located about 4 miles E of Bethel. Numerous caves provided hiding places from the relentless pursuers.
 

twenty (KJV): Jud 20:15,35

SO ALL OF BENJAMIN WHO FELL THAT DAY WERE 25,000 MEN WHO DRAW THE SWORD; ALL THESE WERE VALIANT WARRIORS: Jdg20:15 says there were 26,000 men of Benjamin that "drew the sword." Since 25,000 fell on "that day," evidently a thousand had already been slain during the previous days of fighting. The number 25,000 seems here to be a "round number" for the more accurate count (25,100) mentioned in Jdg20:35.

six hundred (KJV): Jud 21:13 Ps 103:9,10 Isa 1:9 Jer 14:7 La 3:32 Hab 3:2,
rock of Rimmon, The rock Rimmon was doubtless a strong place; but it is uncertain where situated. It is probable however, that it was near, and took its name from, the village of Remmon, mentioned by Eusebius, fifteen miles north from Jerusalem. It appears that rocks are still resorted to in the East, as places of security; and some of them are even capable of sustaining a siege. De La Roque says, that "The Grand Seignior, wishing to seize the person of the emir (Fakr-eddin, prince of the Druses,) gave orders to the pacha to take him prisoner: he accordingly came in search of him, with a new army, in the district of Chouf, which is part of mount Lebanon, wherein is the village of Gesin, and close to it, the rock which served for a retreat to the emir. It is named in Arabic, Magara Gesin, i.e., the cavern of Gessin, by which name it is famous. The pacha pressed the emir so closely, that this unfortunate prince was obliged to shut himself up in the cleft of a great rock, with a small number of his officers. The pacha besieged him there several months; and was going to blow up the rock by a mine, when the emir capitulated."

AND THEY REMAINED AT THE ROCK OF RIMMON 4 MONTHS: until there was a peace treaty (21:13,14) were the only survivors of the entire tribe of Benjamin. 

smote them (KJV): De 13:15-17 2Ch 25:13 28:6-9 Pr 18:19
came to hand (KJV): Heb. was found
they came to (KJV): Heb. were found

The problem with revenge is that it is uncontrollable. This was one of the main reasons the Old Testament punishment code, “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,” was first given. It was to restrict the escalation of revenge before things got out of control. But the Israelites chose to jettison that principle. If every man does what is right in his own eyes, then force becomes the arbiter while truth and justice are the first casualties.