§20.21(74) Στίχ. κα΄.
(74) Verse 21.
Καὶ ἐξῆλθον υἱοὶ Βενιαμίν. Τίνος ἕνεκεν ἡττῶνται δικαίως ἐπεξελθόντες;
"And the sons of Benjamin came out." Why are they defeated, having gone out justly?
Ἢ δηλονότι διὰ προλαβούσας αἰτίας.
Or clearly because of prior causes.
Καὶ ὁ ψαλμός φησιν· Ὅταν λάβω καιρὸν, ἐγὼ εὐθύτητας κρινῶ. Εἶτα dicit: μετὰ τὸ ἡττηθῆναι καὶ μίαν καὶ δευτέραν, μετῆλθεν ἡ ὀργὴ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἠδικηκότας, νικῶσι δικαίαν δίκην(75).
And the Psalm says: "When I seize the opportunity, I will judge with equity." Then it says (dicit): "after being defeated both once and a second time, wrath came upon those who had done wrong, and they win a just judgment"(75).
Θαυμάσαι δὲ ἄξιον τὸ πλῆθος τῶν Ἰσραηλιτῶν, ὅτι, δικαίως τοῖς Βενιαμίταις ἐπελθόντες, καὶ ἡττηθέντες, οὐκ ἐνενόησάν τι πονηρὸν κατὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον οὐδὲ ἐπαύσαντο προκλαίοντες, ἕως ὅτε δίκην ἔλαβον κατὰ τῶν ἠδικηκότων.
And it is worthy of admiration that the multitude of the Israelites, having justly gone against the Benjaminites and having been defeated, did not think any evil against God, but rather did not even cease weeping beforehand, until they obtained justice against those who had done wrong.
Οὐ καταμεμφόμενοι τοῦ Θεοῦ εἶπον· Ἀλλὰ ἀπόχρη τοῦτο. Τρόπον μαθεῖν ἱκέτευον.
Without blaming God, they said: "But this is enough." They entreated to learn the way.
Τό Βενιαμὶν λύκος ἅρπαξ· πραῒ ἔδεται, καὶ τὸ ἑ. (76) διαδώσει τροφὴν, ἐνταῦθα πληροῦται.
"Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he shall eat, and etc.(76) he shall distribute food," is fulfilled here.
Καὶ γὰρ πρότεροννικήσας, ἔσχατον βρῶμα τοῦ λαοῦ γέγονε.
For indeed, having previously conquered, in the end he became food for the people.