What is the meaning of Judges 20:48? And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites “ And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites ” (Judges 20:48) • After routing the main Benjamite army (Judges 20:35), Israel’s troops pivoted to mop up resistance. • This “turning back” signals a deliberate, covenant-driven judgment, echoing earlier commands to purge evil from the land (Deuteronomy 13:12-15; 17:12). • The civil war followed Benjamin’s refusal to hand over the men of Gibeah who had committed atrocity (Judges 19). Justice demanded completion, not half-measures (compare Joshua 7:24-26). and put to the sword all the cities “ …and put to the sword all the cities ” • “All” indicates thoroughness; every Benjamite settlement was targeted. Earlier holy-war directives against Canaanite cities used the same language (Deuteronomy 20:16-18). • The tribes acted corporately, fulfilling their oath (Judges 21:1) and demonstrating that sin’s corruption spreads unless decisively addressed (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). • God had earlier withheld victory until Israel sought Him (Judges 20:26-28), underscoring that this sweeping action was divinely sanctioned, not mere revenge. including the animals and everything else they found “ …including the animals and everything else they found ” • Total destruction (ḥerem‐style devotion) mirrored commands against Amalek (1 Samuel 15:3) and Jericho (Joshua 6:17-21). • Livestock often represented wealth and future livelihood. Eliminating them removed any benefit gained from sin (Proverbs 15:27). • Such severity reminds readers that God’s holiness tolerates no compromise (Leviticus 11:44-45). And they burned down all the cities in their path “ And they burned down all the cities in their path.” • Fire completed the judgment, erasing physical reminders of rebellion (compare Numbers 31:10; Deuteronomy 13:16). • Burning also prevented reoccupation, forcing future restoration to start with repentance (Judges 21:14-17). • The smoke of destroyed cities stood as a cautionary witness to the remaining tribes, much like Sodom’s ruins warned later generations (Genesis 19:28; 2 Peter 2:6). summary Judges 20:48 records Israel’s final, comprehensive judgment against Benjamin after grievous sin. Each action—turning back, slaughter, total destruction of possessions, and burning—reflects covenant fidelity and the necessity of purging evil to preserve holiness within God’s people. |
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