Judges 20:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The reverence our forebears had for integrity is illustrated by their response to the indignity suffered by a single woman. In retaliation against the unrestrained men of Benjamin, they waged war, and upon achieving victory, they vowed not to allow their daughters to be wed to any men from that tribe. This dedication to righteousness is evident in the fact that forty thousand warriors took up arms against their fellow Israelites, driven by a desire to restore the honor that had been tarnished, as they could not bear the presence of those who corrupted the sanctity of marriage. The conflict resulted in the loss of sixty-five thousand soldiers from both sides, and entire cities were set ablaze. Despite Israel’s initial disadvantage, their spirits remained unbroken, fueled by a singular goal: to alleviate their grief through the quest for justice. They charged into battle, determined to cleanse the shame with their own sacrifice.