The battel 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 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 does 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, yes, but may we have the first day, and the second day, we hope we shall do well enough. No (says 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:

First, that the children of iniquity may escape once, and again: Though men be children of iniquity, yet the battel may not overtake them. It's as famous a story to take away the seeming success in an ill cause, and disappointment in a good cause, as any I know in all the Book of God: it did not overtake them at first. God's wrath follows many men in this world, and yet for a long time overtakes them not, but God calls it back (Psalm 78:38). He being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not, yes, many a time turned he his anger away and did not stir up all his wrath. But at length God's wrath overtakes men. In (Zechariah 1:6), Did not my words take hold upon your fathers? I sent out my threatning words and you escaped a long time, but at length my word catcht hold of them. As the dog that follows the hare barking a great while, but at length he overtakes it and ceases upon it and tears it: So, did not my Word take hold upon your forefathers?

Calvin he gives another interpretation of these words, and some other notes upon it, but I think that this is the main and genuine scope of them.