Judges 20:47 - But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months.
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What does "Judges 20:47" mean?
Judges 20 tells the story of a civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel. The verse you quoted, Judges 20:47, is the culmination of the battle described in chapter 20 and signifies the near annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin. Let's break down what it means:
"But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness": This indicates that after suffering a devastating defeat at the hands of the other Israelite tribes, only a small remnant of the Benjamite army—just 600 men—managed to escape the slaughter. The Benjamites were significantly outnumbered and overwhelmed.
"to the rock of Rimmon": The rock of Rimmon was likely a well-known and prominent rock formation, possibly a rocky outcrop or cave system, offering a defensive position in the wilderness. It was a natural refuge.
"and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months": This is the crucial part. Hiding in the rock of Rimmon for four months indicates:
Desperation and Survival: They were in hiding, fearing for their lives, and trying to survive the aftermath of the war.
Isolation: They were cut off from their families, their homes, and the rest of Israel. They were living as fugitives.
Vulnerability: Their situation was precarious. They were likely running low on supplies and constantly in danger of being discovered.
A Time for Reflection (Perhaps): While not explicitly stated, the four months of isolation may have been a period for the men to reflect on the events that led to their defeat and the near extinction of their tribe.
In summary, Judges 20:47 describes the desperate flight and survival of the last 600 Benjamite soldiers after their defeat in the civil war. They sought refuge in the wilderness at the rock of Rimmon, where they hid for four months, representing the near-destruction of their tribe and their isolated and precarious situation. This sets the stage for the following chapter, which deals with the question of how to rebuild the tribe of Benjamin without completely wiping it out.
Judges 20:47 - But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months.
What does "Judges 20:47" mean?
Judges 20 tells the story of a civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel. The verse you quoted, Judges 20:47, is the culmination of the battle described in chapter 20 and signifies the near annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin. Let's break down what it means:
"But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness": This indicates that after suffering a devastating defeat at the hands of the other Israelite tribes, only a small remnant of the Benjamite army—just 600 men—managed to escape the slaughter. The Benjamites were significantly outnumbered and overwhelmed.
"to the rock of Rimmon": The rock of Rimmon was likely a well-known and prominent rock formation, possibly a rocky outcrop or cave system, offering a defensive position in the wilderness. It was a natural refuge.
"and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months": This is the crucial part. Hiding in the rock of Rimmon for four months indicates:
Desperation and Survival: They were in hiding, fearing for their lives, and trying to survive the aftermath of the war.
Isolation: They were cut off from their families, their homes, and the rest of Israel. They were living as fugitives.
Vulnerability: Their situation was precarious. They were likely running low on supplies and constantly in danger of being discovered.
A Time for Reflection (Perhaps): While not explicitly stated, the four months of isolation may have been a period for the men to reflect on the events that led to their defeat and the near extinction of their tribe.
In summary, Judges 20:47 describes the desperate flight and survival of the last 600 Benjamite soldiers after their defeat in the civil war. They sought refuge in the wilderness at the rock of Rimmon, where they hid for four months, representing the near-destruction of their tribe and their isolated and precarious situation. This sets the stage for the following chapter, which deals with the question of how to rebuild the tribe of Benjamin without completely wiping it out.