ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Tusite Novema 9, 2021

why has this happened?

ko e hā kuo hoko ai ‘a e me‘a ni?

Fakamaau 21 (Judges 21)

(v. 2-3) Pea ha‘u ‘a e kakai ki Pēteli, pea nau nofo ‘i he ‘ao ‘o ‘Elohimi ‘i he potu ko ia ‘o a‘u ki he efiafi, pea nau ‘ai ‘enau fu‘u fākafoa. Pea nau pehē, ‘E Sihova, ‘Otua ‘o ‘Isileli, ko e hā kuo hoko ai ‘a e me‘a ni ‘i ‘Isileli? he ko e ‘aho ni kuo tō ha matakali ‘e taha ‘i ‘Isileli.

(v. 2-3) And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. And they said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?”

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Uninstructed zeal, even in the cause of righteousness, often goes beyond its proper limits. The terrible carnage continued until not above six hundred men of the tribe of Benjamin were left. Another of those sudden revulsions which characterize the action of inflamed peoples is seen as Israel was suddenly filled with pity for the tribe so nearly exterminated. This pity, then, operated in ways that were wholly unrighteous. Wives were provided for the men of Benjamin by unjustified slaughter at Jabesh-gilead and by the vilest iniquity at Shiloh.

It is impossible to read this appendix to the Book of Judges, and especially the closing part of it, without being impressed with how sad is the condition of any people who act without some definitely fixed principle. Passion moves to purpose only as it is governed by principle. If it lacks that, it will march at one moment in heroic determination to establish high ideals and purity of life, and then almost immediately will burn and express itself in brutality and all manner of evil.

The writer of this book more than once drew attention to the fact that at that time there was no king in Israel. Undoubtedly he meant by this to trace the lawlessness to the lack of government. The truth was that Israel had lost its immediate relation to its one and only King.

David Guzik :: Study Guide for Judges 21

Then the people came to the house of God, and remained there before God till evening. They lifted up their voices and wept bitterly, and said, “O Lord God of Israel, why has this come to pass in Israel, that today there should be one tribe missing in Israel?”

Why has this come to pass in Israel, that today there should be one tribe missing in Israel? They cried out to God, almost as if it was His responsibility that the tribe of Benjamin was on the edge of extinction. The question, “Why has this come to pass?” was easily answered: Because of the excessive vengeance of the tribes of Israel against the tribe of Benjamin.

One tribe missing: Down to almost only 400 men – and those men unable to marry because of the curse pronounced in Judges 21:1 – the tribe of Benjamin was almost extinct.