9 But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;
9 But now this is what we'll do to Gibeah: We'll go up against it in the order decided by casting lots.
9 But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot,
9 Here's our plan for dealing with Gibeah: We'll march against it by drawing lots.
9 but now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: We will go up against it by lot.
9 Instead, this is what we will do to Gibeah; we will draw lots to decide who will attack it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 20:9
Chapter Contents
The tribe of Benjamin nearly extirpated.
The Israelites' abhorrence of the crime committed at Gibeah, and their resolution to punish the criminals, were right; but they formed their resolves with too much haste and self-confidence. The eternal ruin of souls will be worse, and more fearful, than these desolations of a tribe.