提要
便雅憫遭大屠殺之後，以色列人才醒悟到他們之中的一個支派可能要從迦南地上消失了。上帝在應許之地賜給便雅憫人地業，所以以色列人覺得他們必須想辦法保住便雅憫人的產業（17節），但是問題產生了。
以色列人在上帝面前發誓不將他們的女兒嫁給剩餘的便雅憫人，「有將女兒給便雅憫為妻的」必受咒詛（1、18節）。如果便雅憫人都娶不到妻子，那麼這個支派將無可避免的面臨滅絕的命運。以色列人在怒氣中還起了另一個誓，就是以色列中凡不響應呼召，不到米斯巴聚集的，就必治死。難怪當時聚集了那麼多的以色列人。這些誓都是衝動下的產物，現在以色列人後悔了。他們似乎也後悔對便雅憫支派報復過度。
經過仔細調查後，以色列人發現基列雅比人沒有參與這次的聯合軍事行動。基列雅比人來自定居約但河東瑪拿西半支派，他們與便雅憫支派似乎有很密切的關係（參撒上十一章）。瑪拿西是約瑟的後裔，而便雅憫和約瑟是同父同母（拉結）的親兄弟，這可能是為什麼基列雅比人拒絕參與懲罰便雅憫人行動的原因。以色列人因所起的誓，必須毀滅不伸援手的基列雅比人；但在這麼做的同時，他們也找出解決前一個問題的辦法。以色列人留住基列雅比處女的性命，將她們給便雅憫人為妻，不過，問題還沒有完全解決，仍有二百個便雅憫人得不到妻子。
以色列的長老於是想辦法玩弄文字遊戲。他們教便雅憫人於示羅的節期埋伏在葡萄園中，伺機「搶」示羅的女子為妻，如此他們就不算破壞誓言，因為並不是他們主動將自己的女兒「給」便雅憫人為妻。如此一來，便雅憫人才得以在上帝所賜給他們為業的土地上東山再起。後來從這個支派出了以色列的第一位國王，掃羅。
在整本士師記的最後一節，聖靈所感動的作者兼史家解釋了士師時代以色列問題叢生的原因：「那時以色列中沒有王，各人任意而行」（25節）。由於沒有一個強而有力的領導者建立秩序和紀律，以色列社會遂急速墜落。上帝應該是以色列的王，但以色列人不尊敬祂；上帝的律法應作他們生活的法則，但以色列人也不遵行。雖然在這段時期，我們不時可見上帝恩典的手在工作，適時的援助以色列人，但整本士師記最顯著的主題還是人不斷重複的失敗。
即使在我們今天這個時代，上帝的百姓中還是充滿了失敗。噢，我們多麼需要存悔改的心在上帝面前謙卑、認罪、承認我們對祂的倚靠，並順服祂。惟有如此，我們才能經歷從上帝而來的勝利。
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Overview
After the great slaughter of Benjamites, the Israelites wept with the realization that one of their tribes might become extinct. The Lord had given the tribe of Benjamin an inheritance in the Promised Land; they therefore felt they had to find a way to secure the inheritance of Benjamin (v.17), but this posed a problem.
The Israelites’ solemn vow about not giving any of their daughters in marriage to any of the remaining Benjamite men was sworn before the Lord any by his Name; there would be a curse on “the one who gave a wife to Benjamin” (v.18). If no wives were found for them, the extinction of the tribe would be inevitable. A second vow had also been taken out of anger because of the awful crime in Gibeah; any men who did not respond to the call of gathering at Mizpah were to be put to death. No wonder such a number had assembled. These vows were rash, and Israelites regretted having made them. It appears they also came to regret their excessive retribution on the tribe of Benjamin.
Upon careful investigation, the Israelites realized that no men had come up from Jabesh Gilead. It seems there were close ties between the tribe of Benjamin and the people of Jabesh Gilead (cf. 1 Sam.11) who came from the half tribe of Manasseh that had settled east of the Jordan. They were of the house of Joseph, and Benjamin and Joseph were full brothers by the same mother, Rachel. This might explain why the men of Jabesh Gilead refused to participate in the punishment. Under obligation to their oath, Israel had to destroy them for not helping, but in so doing they found a solution to the problem. By saying all the virgin young women, the men of Benjamin could be provided with wives (v.12), yet this did not totally solve the problem; they were still two hundred women short.
The fearful remnant of six hundred Benjamites were reassured of Israel’s peaceful intentions by the offer of the women to be wives for fours hundred, but another plan was devised to provide wives for the remainder. The elders of Israel thought of a way to get around the wording of the vow. By having the Benjamite men wait in ambush and ‘catch’ the women at the feast in Shiloh (v.20-21), no father would be breaking his vow by ‘giving’ his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite. In such a way, the tribe of Benjamin was on its way to restoration in the territory of their God-given inheritance. They later provided Israel with their first king, Saul.
In the final verse of the book of Judges, the inspired historian/writer explains the reasons for the many problems that arose in Israel during the period of judges: “there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (v.25). Without a strong leader to bring order, unity, and discipline, the Israelite society was in decline. God was supposed to be their King, but they did not honor Him. His Law was supposed to be their rule and guide for life, but they did not heed it. Although the hand of God was seen at work occasionally during this period, graciously coming to their aid, the recurring theme that stands out is human failure.
Even in our day and age, human failure is prevalent among the people of God. Oh how we need to humble ourselves before God with repentant hearts, confessing our sin, recognizing our dependence upon Him, and keeping obedient to Him. Only then can we expect to experience victory from God.
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Prayer
Oh God, You are all-powerful and Holy, and we, in our humanity, are so weak and sinful. Just as the Israelites had to admit their failures and humbly acknowledge dependence on You, help us to do the same and experience victory in our lives. |
