士師記 20:4 JC

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Judges 20:1-48

; Judges 20:1-48; Judges 21:1-25FROM JUSTICE TO WILD REVENGEJudges 19:1-30; Judges 20:1-48; Judges 21:1-25THESE last chapters describe a general and vehement outburst of moral indignation throughout Israel, recorded for various reasons. A vile thing is done in one of the towns of Benjamin and the fact is published in all the tribes. The doers of it are defended by their clan and fearful punishment is wrought upon them, not without suffering to the entire people. Like the incidents narrated in... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Judges 20:1-48

CHAPTER 20 The Horrible War 1. The Levite’s story (Judges 20:1-7 ) 2. The uprising (Judges 20:8-11 ) 3. The slaying of the Israelites (Judges 20:12-25 ) 4. Benjamin exterminated except six hundred men (Judges 20:26-48 ) This and the concluding chapter bring before us the awful harvest of what had been sown. “For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7 ). They had sown the wind and now reaped the whirlwind. Violence and lawlessness result in the slaying of... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Judges 20:1-48

APPENDIX TO THE BOOK The chapters concluding the book detail certain incidents at various periods during the preceding history, when the whole nation was disordered and corrupt, and “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” A MAN-MADE PRIEST (Judges 17:0 ) Chapter 17 tells of Micah who established his own imitation of the tabernacle. Of course it was contrary to the law and evinced ignorance and superstition, although the motive may not have been bad. ORIGIN OF THE CITY OF... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Judges 20:1-48

Judges 20:0 1. Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation [the whole community of Israel] was gathered together as one man [a phrase which disappears after the days of Solomon], from Dan even to Beersheba [from one extremity to another, a proverbial expression for all Israel], with the land of Gilead [the transjordanic tribes], unto the Lord in Mizpeh [not the one mentioned in Jdg 11:11 ]. 2. And the chief [literally, the corner-stones] of all the people, even of all the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Judges 20:4-7

I pass by the relation of the story itself, (for we had it before in the preceding chapter) to call the Reader's attention to the Levites appeal. What are, or ought to be the children of Israel? Moses had told them long before; Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, Deuteronomy 7:6 . Faithfulness to the God of their salvation, and the most brotherly love and attachment to one another, were implied in this honourable distinction. Nothing therefore could have been more admirably chosen,... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Judges 20:1-13

The Benjamites Refuse to Deliver up the Guilty v. 1. Then all the children of Israel went out, all housefathers or able-bodied men leaving their homes, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, they assembled as a congregation, with the full consciousness of organic union, from Dan, the most northern town, even to Beersheba, the most southern city, the expression thus denoting a most general participation of the men of Israel, with the land of Gilead, the country east of... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Judges 20:1-13

The tribes of Israel, convened at Mizpah, resolve to punish the outrage committed at Gibeah. They call on the tribe of Benjamin to deliver up the guilty, but are met with a refusalJudges 20:1-131Then all the children [sons] of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with [and] the land of Gilead, unto the Lord [Jehovah] in Mizpeh [Mizpah]. 2And the chief [chiefs] of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Judges 20:1-48

The action of the Levite served its purpose. The nation was stirred momentarily to its center. A great moral passion flamed out. Underneath all the degeneracy was a true stratum of religious conviction, which in the presence of the iniquity of the men of Gibeah sprang to life and action. It is very remarkable how in the case of nations backsliding from religious ideals this is ever true. In the midst of most sordid and debased times, in the presence of some more than usually violent... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:4

Judges 20:4 a ‘And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said.’ He stood up before the judges in order to testify to the hearing the facts of the case. Judges 20:4-5 (4b-5) “I came into Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine to lodge. And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about against me by night. Me they thought to have slain, and my concubine they forced, and she is dead.” The testimony was clear and straightforward,... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:1-48

Judges 20. The Outrage Avenged.—“ The congregation” (LXX Synagô gç ) is a post-exilic term. The words “ as one man” suggest a unity of action such as was not secured till long after the time of the Judges. “ The assembly of the people of God” was a phrase often heard in the second Temple, but not in the days of the Judges. Judges 20:2 . Contrast the army mustered against Sisera, 40,000 men strong ( Judges 5:8). Judges 20:10 . Each of the three clauses means precisely the same thing. Judges... read more