Every man did what was right in his own eyes? Apparently the tribe of Benjamin thought it right to defend a clan of ritualistic rapists and murderers. Better to go to war with the eleven other tribes than deal justly with the evil in their own midst.
Israel had the permission of God, they had the numerical advantage, they had done the prayer and fasting and worship and their cause was just and yet they lost convincingly these first few attempts. Who knows the reasoning that God pursued the eventual victory in this way, but, no doubt His purpose holy and just even if unknown to us. Given Israel's response post victory to the desperate need of their making to continue observing Benjamin's right to inheritance with new wives, they must have felt that God reasoning must have included the future ability of the twelve tribes to resume as one nation. We too must be aware that not every victory, even by God's direct blessing protects us from initial defeat or partial culpability. Victory may come at great sacrifice and frustration.
Every man doing what is right in his own eye? One city chose not to engage this civil war at all. They hid themselves from the ranks of Israel. In the end they paid the price of restoration by the blood of there own citizens and the servitude of their female virgins. The responsibilities of a nation are all mens. Pacifism, not standing against the blatant injustice of others, not standing for the effort toward restoration of justice whatever the cost, hiding behind some supposed morality free from the greater morality of other people's rights and just penalties afforded has unforeseen longterm consequences.
2012 - pBiblx2 Field Wise Bible System Version 2.0.9d - GPL3
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