Finally, something that draws most of the nation together! After the Benjamites refuse to turn over the men who engaged in the sexual deviancy that caused the death of the woman, the rest of the tribes engage them in war. There were three attacks, with Judah going first. The first two times the attackers were repelled, but the third time resulted in the tribe being destroyed. Why did God allow such destruction? Why didn’t he ensure the victory on the first attack? Maybe he was looking for something? It’s not until the second attack fails that we see them weeping and fasting before the Lord (20:26). Perhaps they were trusting entirely too much on their own strength and prowess (as 20:10 may indicate), rather than relying on God.
Thought for the day: “All the people arose as one man.” “Knit together as one man.” Unfortunately, it often takes a tragedy of momentous proportions to get this type of unity.
Nehemiah 4:4-6 (WEB) “Hear, our God, for we are despised. Turn back their reproach on their own head. Give them up for a plunder in a land of captivity. Don’t cover their iniquity. Don’t let their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have insulted the builders.’ So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”
Amen!