An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of…

There they stood, the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.

There they stood, the battel in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.

There they stood] Either this must be meant of the men of Gibeah, ¹that they stood, and the battle did not overtake the children of iniquity.

There they stood] Either this must be meant of the men of Gibeah, ¹that they stood, and the battel did not overtake the children of iniquity.

1. 1Expos. 1.

If it be meant of the men of Gibeah, there they stood, then it notes their stoutness, they would stand it out, There they stood. Though they had committed such a horrible wickedness, and there was a desire but to have those that were Delinquents to be brought forth for punishment, yet they combine together and would stand it out, they stood stoutly to maintain the wickedness that was committed, especially after their first success, they fought, and in both the days they slew forty thousand; now having the first day, this did hearten them, yea, they had the day the second time, and that made them stout in their way: Success will make men stand it out in their wickedness.¹ God many times gives success on purpose to harden the hearts of men that they may stand it out unto their ruin, for so it proved to the Benjamites.

If it be meant of the men of Gibeah, there they stood, then it notes their stoutness, they would stand it out, There they stood. Though they had committed such a horrible wickedness, and there was a desire but to have those that were Delinquents to be broughts forth for punishment, yet they combine together and would stand it out, they stood stoutly to maintain the wickedness that was committed, especially after their first success, they fought, and in both the daies they slew fourty thousand; now having the first day, this did hearten them, yea, they had the day the second time, and that made them stout in their way: Success will make men stand it out in their wickedness.¹ God manie times gives success on purpose to harden the hearts of men that they may stand it out unto their ruin, for so it proved to the Benjamites.

1. 1God gives success sometimes in judgment.God gives succes somtimes in judgment.

Be not troubled at the success of Adversaries,¹ God gives them success to harden their hearts, to stand it out that they may be ruined at last.

1. 1Expos. 2.

Or, if you take it for the men of Israel, There they stood.

I find abundance of strange apprehensions of Interpreters and variety about this,¹ and it would cost one a great deal of time, the opening of this Verse, to compose but the several Interpretations that men have upon this Text, but I'll only give you what I think may be the scope of the holy Ghost, or at least what may be fairly hinted from the words.

I find abundance of strange apprehensions of Interpreters and variety about this,¹ and it would cost one a great deal of time, the opening of this Verse, to compose but the several Interpretations that men have upon this Text, but I'le only give you what I think may be the scope of the holy Ghost, or at least what may be fairly hinted from the words.

1. 1Variety of Interpreters.

The men of Israel stood.

That is, (according to some,) when they saw in their battle at Gibeah they did not prevail at first,¹ they saw their brethren stood out stoutly, and they lost so many thousand men, upon this they were at a stand; There they stood, they knew not what in the world to do, to think that so good a Cause, and a work that they had warrant from God to do, yet they should have such ill success, there they stood.

That is, (according to some,) when they saw in their battel at Gibeah they did not prevail at first,¹ they saw their brethren stood out stoutly, and they lost so many thousand men, upon this they were at a stand; There they stood, they knew not what in the world to do, to think that so good a Cause, and a work that they had warrant from God to do, yet they should have such ill success, there they stood.

1. 1Expos. 1.

Men had need be very well grounded in a good Cause when they meet with much difficulty. I believe since this Cause that we have been about in England hath bin begun,¹ many through unbelief and cowardice have bin at a stand, they stood and knew not which way to go, Lord, is this the Cause of God? is this the Truth of God? what, to have such ill success. Many are lost in their spirits only by success.

Men had need be very well grounded in a good Cause when they meet with much difficulty. I beleeve since this Cause that we have been about in England hath bin begun,¹ many through unbeleef and cowardize have bin at a stand, they stood and knew not which way to go, Lord, is this the Cause of God? is this the Truth of God? what, to have such ill success. Many are lost in their spirits only by success.

1. 1Applied to England.

Or thus,

There they stood] that is,¹ Though they were at a stand, and somewhat troubled, yet they persisted in their work, notwithstanding any difficulties they met withal, they would not fly off, but there they stood to it, they were resolved whatever ill success they had, to go on in the work that God had called them to.

There they stood] that is,¹ Though they were at a stand, and somewhat troubled, yet they persisted in their work, notwithstanding any difficulties they met withall, they would not fly off, but there they stood to it, they were resolved whatever ill success they had, to go on in the work that God had call'd them to.

1. 1Expos. 2.

The battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.

The battel in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.

When they did fight against the children of iniquity, yet this battle did not overtake them [to wit, the Benjamites] not the first day, nor the second day, but they were foiled twice: Though I know others do give other Interpretations of this word, yet this seems to be more genuine.

When they did fight against the children of iniquity, yet this battel did not overtake them [to wit, the Benjamites] not the first day, nor the second day, but they were foil'd twice: Though I know others do give other Interpretations of this word, yet this seems to be more genuine.

But why doth the Prophet bring it in here? The men of Israel (to whom Hosea did prophesy) might say, You tell us that our sin is as in the days of Gibeah, yea, but may we have the first day, and the second day, we hope we shall do well enough.¹ Nay (saith the Prophet) your sin is worse, you may not think that your case is so good as the Benjamites, the Battle did not overtake them, but it shall overtake you; and upon this ground the Prophet brings in this, that the Battle did not overtake them, granting that which they would object, yet so as it should not make for them, but to take away their hopes to escape. And thus you have the meaning. The Observations are:

But why doth the Prophet bring it in here? The men of Israel (to whom Hosea did prophesie) might say, You tell us that our sin is as in the daies of Gibeah, yea, but may we have the first day, and the second day, we hope we shall do well enough.¹ Nay (saith the Prophet) your sin is worse, you may not think that your case is so good as the Benjamites, the Battel did not overtake them, but it shall overtake you; and upon this ground the Prophet brings in this, that the Battel did not overtake them, granting that which they would object, yet so as it should not make for them, but to take away their hopes to escape. And thus you have the meaning. The Observations are:

1. 1Expos.