Judges 20:47

*But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon four months.* (Judges 20:47) This verse marks the aftermath of a violent civil conflict within Israel in which the tribe of Benjamin struggled against the combined forces of the other Israelite tribes. The Book of Judges likely took place between 1380 and 1050 BC, a tumultuous period marked by repeated cycles of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance. Here, data from earlier chapters reveals that the Benjamites suffered heavy losses in battle, yet six hundred survivors fled to find refuge at a rocky outcropping known as the rock of Rimmon. Their retreat to this stronghold underscores both their desperation and the severe cost of the conflict as the tribe faced near extermination.

The rock of Rimmon offered a natural fortress, providing a strategic vantage point and protective shelter. Located in the territory assigned to the tribe of Benjamin, it lay near the central highlands, most likely a few miles northeast of Jerusalem. In ancient times, rocky crags served as havens to regroup or hide. This dire situation for the Benjamite remnant lasted four months, during which the tribe’s continuing existence was precarious. Remarkably, despite the harsh brutality on both sides, God preserved these six hundred men, and from them the tribe of Benjamin would be rebuilt, illustrating the persistent mercy evident amidst human conflict.

Together, these events highlight Israel's persistent struggle to follow God's law and the severe consequences that follow disobedience and civil strife. The episode also suggests that despite grievous failures, there remains a thread of hope and God’s ultimate plan to preserve His people.

The Benjamite survivors found temporary shelter in the stark refuge of Rimmon’s rocky wilderness before rejoining the nation’s ongoing history.