The Expositor's Bible: The Book of JoshuaBlaikie, William Garden
Religion
The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Joshua
Blaikie, William Garden
Bible. Joshua -- Commentaries
Many famous battles were fought on the soil of Benjamin. The battle of
Ai; that of Gibeon, followed by the pursuit through Bethhoron, both
under Joshua; Jonathan's battle with the Philistines at Michmash (1
Sam. xiv.); and the duel at Gibeon between twelve men of Saul and
twelve of David (2 Sam. ii. 15, 16); were all fought within the
territory of Benjamin. And when Sennacherib approached Jerusalem from
the north, the places which were thrown into panic as he came near
were in this tribe. "He is come to Aiath, he is passed through Migron;
at Michmash he layeth up his baggage: they are gone over the pass;
they have taken up their lodging at Geba: Ramah trembleth; Gibeah of
Saul is fled. Cry aloud with thy voice, O daughter of Gallim! hearken,
O Laishah! O thou poor Anathoth! Madmenah is a fugitive; the
inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee. This very day shall he
halt at Nob: he shaketh his hand at the mount of the daughter of Zion,
the hill of Jerusalem" (Isa. x. 28-32, R.V.). In later times Judas
Maccabeus gained a victory over the Syrian forces at Bethhoron; and,
again, Cestius and his Roman troops were defeated by the Jews; and,
once more, centuries later, Richard Cœur de Lion and the flower of
English chivalry, when they pushed up through Bethhoron in the hope of
reaching Jerusalem, were compelled to retire.
Even down to New Testament times, as Dean Stanley remarks, the
influence of Benjamin remained, for the name of Saul, the king whom
Benjamin gave to the nation, was preserved in Hebrew families; and
when a far greater of that name appeals to his descent, or to the past
history of his nation, a glow of satisfaction is visible in the marked
emphasis with which he alludes to "the stock of Israel, the tribe of
Benjamin" (Phil. iii. 5), and to God's gift of "Saul the son of Kish,
a man of the tribe of Benjamin" (Acts xiii. 21).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account