ISRAEL’S CIVIL WAR

Mar. 6th Sabbath Israel’s Civil War Page 8 of 14
and decency. They refused to yield to what was right. By not giving up
the gang of men from Gibeah, Benjamin, in effect, was saying, “We
stand by their wickedness.”
So the towns and villages all over Benjamin’s territory gathered its
troops, who marched to Gibeah. Among them were 700 left-handed
warriors who were experts at slinging rocks at small targets—they never
missed! From within the city’s walls, they could kill attackers without
ever being touched. With Gibeah’s 700 warriors, Benjamin had 26,700
troops to fight against Israel’s 400,000 revenge-seeking soldiers (Judges
20:1-17).
Self-righteous Israel
Through Phinehas the high priest, the leaders of Israel’s army asked God,
“Which tribe should be the first to attack Benjamin?”
God answered, “Judah shall go first.” Though God told them who should
attack first, Israel did not ask Him if it was His will that they attack
Benjamin. Israel was being self-righteous. Instead of asking God about
what they should do, they took matters into their own hands. They
decided for themselves the right thing to do.
The next morning, the army moved and encamped near Gibeah. Then the
warriors of Judah—the best of Israel’s fighting men—departed for the
battlefield.
Suddenly, Benjamin’s soldiers rushed out of Gibeah and attacked. When
the day was over, 22,000 Israelite soldiers had been cut down!
Surprised by their humiliating defeat, Israel’s army regrouped and
prepared to do battle the next day. They were encouraged because this
time they sought God’s counsel with tears of sorrow. They had asked