The children of Benjamin were counted on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, in addition to the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred chosen men.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 15. Men. This number is verified, verse 35. The Benjamites had 25,700 in all, of whom they lost 25,100; so that 600 remained. Hebrew reads here 26,000; and some pretend ( Calmet.) that 1000 fell in the two victories which they obtained. Grot. and so forth—But this is without proof, and the Vulg. is confirmed by Josephus, and by most of the copies of the Septuagint though the Vat. copy has only 23,000. Calmet.—Gabaa. Hebrew and Septuagint add, “which were numbered 700 chosen men.” Grabe repeats in the following verse with the Hebrew “Among all this people, 700 chosen men,” which seems to insinuate that these expert archers were selected out of all the army. Bible.—But the other copies of the Septuagint agree with the Vulg. that they were all of Gabaa, ( Calmet.) as if they were trained at this city with more particular care, to hit a mark how small soever.