Exploring the Meaning of Judges 20
От New Christian Bible Study Staff, Julian Duckworth
Israel’s war with the tribe of Benjamin
The events of the previous chapter carry over into the last two chapters of the book of Judges, this one and the final one. The overall content of this chapter is about the division between Israel and the tribe of Benjamin (where the town of Gibeah was situated) and the eventual long war in which thousands on both sides died.
All Israel gathered together at Mizpah, four hundred thousand foot soldiers with swords, from every tribe, except the tribe of Benjamin who heard about the gathering. The reason for coming together, prompted by the dismembered parts of the concubine, was to decide what to do. The Levite told the story of the events. The men of Israel heard and decided that they would all immediately go up against the tribe of Benjamin, for them to hand over the perverted men of Gibeah for justice to be done and for Israel to be redeemed. They agreed to take one man out of every ten to go and, if necessary, to fight.
The spiritual meaning in this opening and gathering of Israel at Mizpah is mostly about its incompleteness. The tribe of Benjamin was not present even though Mizpah was in Benjamin’s territory. Spiritual incompleteness in us is to leave something out of our love and faithfulness to the Lord which makes each one of us a whole being. The twelve tribes of Israel stand for all the qualities which come together to form our spiritual life and purpose. (True Christian Religion 38)
The men of Israel go up and ask the Lord who should go to fight first. The reply is that Judah go first. The men of Benjamin refuse to hand the men of Gibeah over and they form an army to fight Israel. In the fighting, the men of Benjamin cut down twenty-two thousand men of Israel. Israel goes and weeps to the Lord and asks if they should go up again against their brother Benjamin. The Lord says they are to go up again.
The spiritual meaning of the tribe of Benjamin is that it stands for the ‘medium’ or the vital connection between what is internal or celestial and what is external or natural. If this connection is absent there is no passage or mutual link between these two and they are separated. This removes the completeness of our spiritual life as a whole. (See Arcana Caelestia 5822.)
Israel goes up against Benjamin on the second day and eighteen thousand men of Israel are cut down by the army of Benjamin. Israel goes to the house of the Lord and weeps, and asks if they should yet go out to fight their brother Benjamin. The Lord says that they are to fight a third time, and the He will deliver them into their hand.
Israel weeps. Weeping or crying stands for mourning the loss of something which is no longer present. In a good sense ‘weeping’ can be for the sense of loss of what is loved and what is part of us, here represented by ‘to battle the children of my brother Benjamin’.
The Lord wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). (Arcana Caelestia 4293.3)
Israel fights on three consecutive day, and on the third day they defeat the tribe of Benjamin. ‘On the third day’ (see verse 30) stands for the need for conflict and personal states in our spiritual temptations and battles to be worked through until they are brought to an end and we can be brought out of temptation, into a new state. (Arcana Caelestia 5159)
The men of Israel laid an ambush and then went as before to fight the men of Benjamin. They moved away from them and Benjamin followed them and killed some men of Israel. The men in ambush arose and went to Gibeah and by arrangement made a great column of smoke after killing the men of the city. (Arcana Caelestia 9144) The men of Benjamin saw this and panicked, and twenty three thousand of them were slain. Six hundred men escaped and hid, and Israel went all around and destroyed men of Benjamin wherever they were found.
The spiritual meaning of this final battle is in the extent of the numbers killed and the aftermath of the victory with further killing. To ‘kill’ (or destroy) when it is used in the Word is to work completely towards the full expulsion of states, thoughts and intentions in us which are in opposition to the way of the Word and its wholeness and healing. (Arcana Caelestia 9320) This is the meaning of the term ‘vastation’ in which things which are opposed to the Lord need to be worked through and brought to an end so that a new state can come.
Luke 18
1
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
9
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
15
And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
17
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
18
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
20
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
21
And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22
Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23
And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
24
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26
And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
27
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
28
Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
29
And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
30
Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
31
Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32
For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33
And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
34
And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
35
And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36
And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37
And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38
And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
39
And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
40
And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41
Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
43
And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
