Judges 20:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After seeking the Lord's peace, they charged into battle once more with renewed determination, for He had uplifted their hearts through prophecy and fortified their faith.

I believe that this conflict occurred prior to other conflicts, shortly after the death of Christ. As it is stated, ‘Phinehas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest stood before the tabernacle in those days.’ Eleazar passed away not long after Jesus, and Phinehas took over the priestly role, as indicated at the conclusion of the book of Joshua. It seems that the author of this account intentionally placed the initial events at the forefront for a reason. He aimed to illustrate the lineage of judges, identifying who ruled first, second, and third, before presenting us with these two accounts: one involving Micah and Laisa, and the other concerning the woman who perished due to the excessive desires of the depraved.

The account concerning the Levite's wife and the conflict with the Benjamites likely occurred soon after the passing of Joshua, as it references Phinehas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron. The Book of Joshua, specifically in chapter 24, notes that following Eleazar's death, who followed Joshua in leadership, Phinehas succeeded him as priest. It seems improbable that this priest could have lived through the reigns of all the judges of Israel. George Kedrin further clarifies that during the time of Samson, the priest Eli, who was the seventh priest from Aaron, served as the high priest, followed by the prophet Samuel.

On the third occasion, all the Israelites united in the Lord's temple, pouring out their hearts to God with intense weeping, heartfelt fasting, and generous offerings. They earnestly sought His mercy for their transgressions and for the salvation of the entire nation from the unprecedented trials and vile sins that had beset them. They pleaded for a clear directive on whether they should confront their foes for a third time, asking for unmistakable signs of assured victory. God’s third instruction was conveyed to the Israelites through Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, who stood at that moment before the Ark of the Covenant. The message declared: "Go, fight; I will deliver him (that is, your enemy, the Benjamites) into your hands tomorrow." (See Judg. 20:35 for interpretation)