Judges 20:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When the forces engaged in combat for the second time, as directed by God, they relied on divine assistance and displayed great courage; nevertheless, they faced defeat again, resulting in the death of eighteen thousand Israelites. What can we make of this situation? God expressly commands them on two occasions to go forth and bring judgment upon those who oppose Him and violate His commandments, yet both times these armies were overcome by their foes, suffering a loss of forty thousand lives. Who can truly grasp and rationalize these divine directives? (Refer to Judges 20:35 for further insight) The human will must align with the will of God.