John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 21:1-25
Wives are given to the Benjamite Survivors1-6. The lamentation for Benjamin.1. Had sworn] see on Judges 17:2. All the women and children in Benjamin have been massacred: cp. Judges 21:16. 2. House of God] RV ’Bethel,’ as in Judges 20:26, Judges 20:31. 4. Burnt offerings and peace offerings] see on Judges 20:26. 5. Lit. ’the great curse had been pronounced upon,’ etc. 6. Repented them] see on Judges 2:18.7-25. The Benjamites provided with wives.8. Jabesh-gilead] i.e. Jabesh in Gilead; cp. 1... read more
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 21:5-15
Israel’s first insufficient solution: a previous oath 21:5-15Judges 21:5-7 stress the sorrow and the dilemma the Israelites felt because of the Benjamites’ situation. The "great oath" (Judges 21:5) seems to have been that any Israelites who did not participate in the nation’s battles against her enemies should suffer God’s punishment (cf. Numbers 32:20-33). Judges 21:8-9 record the Israelites’ solution to their dilemma having asked themselves, "What shall we do?" (Judges 21:7; cf. Judges... read more