Exploring the Meaning of Judges 20
Napsal(a) 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 19
1
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
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And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
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And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
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And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
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And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
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For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
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And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
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And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
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But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
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And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
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Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
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And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
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And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
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And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20
And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
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For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
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And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
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Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
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And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
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(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
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For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
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But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
28
And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
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And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
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Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
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And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
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And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
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And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
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And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
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And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
36
And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
37
And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
38
Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39
And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40
And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
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And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
42
Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43
For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44
And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
45
And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
46
Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
47
And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
48
And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
