Judges 20:17

“And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, etc.] Who did not join them in this affair, but opposed them, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: see (<072009>Judges 20:9) all these were men of war; inured to it, skilful and courageous.”

“Comparing the numbers here with those in Numbers 1:0; Numbers 26:0, it is seen that in the case both of the Benjamites and the Israelites the numbers are diminished by about one-third, i. e., they appear as about two-thirds only of what they were at the last numbering in the plains of Moab. This diminution seems to indicate disturbed and harassing times. With this agrees the mention of the cities, as containing the whole Benjamite population. The inference is that the open country and unwalled villages were not safe, but that the Benjamites kept the Canaanites in subjection only by dwelling in fortified towns. Judges 20:16 See Judges 3:15, and note. In the Septuagint and Vulgate the 700…”

“Men of Israel - Such as were here present, for it is probable they had a far greater number of men, being six hundred thousand before their entrance into Canaan. Judges 20:18”

“four hundred: Jdg 20:2; Num 1:46, Num 26:51; Sa1 11:8, Sa1 15:4; Ch1 21:5; Ch2 17:14-18 Judges 20:18”

“The forces of the other tribes amounted when numbered to 400,000 men. These numbers (26,000 Benjaminites and 400,000 Israelites) will not appear too great if we consider that the whole of the congregation of Israel took part in the war, with the simple exception of Jabesh in Gilead ( Jdg 21:8), and that in the time of Moses the twelve tribes numbered more than 600,000 men of twenty years old and upwards (Num 26), so that not much more than two-thirds of the whole of the fighting men went out to the war. Jdg 20:18 Before opening the campaign the Israelites went to Bethel, to inquire of God which tribe should commence the war, i.e., should fight at the head of the other tribes (on the fact…”