Exploring the Meaning of Judges 20
Nga 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 20
1
And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,
2
And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
3
And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
4
The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
5
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
6
But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
7
And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
8
And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
9
Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
10
And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
11
And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
12
And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
13
Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
14
But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
15
So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
16
He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
17
And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
18
Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
19
And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
20
And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
21
And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
22
Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
23
But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
24
Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
25
And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
26
And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
27
Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
28
Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
29
There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
30
And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
31
And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
32
Last of all the woman died also.
33
Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
34
And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35
But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36
Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
37
Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
38
For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
39
Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
40
And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
41
And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
42
And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
43
Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
44
David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?
45
Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
46
Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
47
Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
