Jabes was between Pella and Gerasa, upon a mountain, east of the Jordan. It was after its destruction rebuilt, (Calmet) and became very famous, (1 Kings xi.; Menochius) if it was indeed ever demolished. We know not what prevented the inhabitants from joining in common cause. (Haydock) read more
The Expedition Against Jabesh-Gilead v. 1. Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, at the time of the great assembly, Judges 20:1, when the embittered feeling against Benjamin ran high, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin, to any member of that tribe, to wife, man for man they had promised that. v. 2. And the people, after the close of the war of vengeance, came to the house of God, to Bethel, where the Ark of the Covenant remained till the end of the... read more
Israel bewails the desolation of Benjamin, and takes measures to preserve the tribe from extinction. Twelve thousand men are sent to punish Jabesh-Gilead for not joining in the war against Benjamin, and to take their daughters for wives for the remaining Benjamites.Judges 21:1-14.1Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh [Mizpah], saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife. 2And the people came to the house of God [Beth-el], and abode [sat] there till even before... read more
Uninstructed zeal, even in the cause of righteousness, often goes beyond its proper limits. The terrible carnage continued until not above six hundred men of the tribe of Benjamin were left. Another of those sudden revulsions which characterize the action of inflamed peoples is seen as Israel was suddenly filled with pity for the tribe so nearly exterminated. This pity, then, operated in ways that were wholly unrighteous. Wives were provided for the men of Benjamin by unjustified slaughter at... read more
‘ How shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by Yahweh that we will not give of our daughters to be their wives.?’ They had decided on mercy for the six hundred holed up in the Rock, but the problem now was how to find wives for them without breaking their solemn oath to Yahweh. It is a reminder that we do well to consider carefully before we make promises and take oaths. They are not easily undone. But as such men will they had a solution. Men are always good at... read more
‘And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel who did not come up to Yahweh, to Mizpah?” And lo, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly. For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.’ A check was made of the tribes and sub-tribes and it was discovered that the people of Jabesh-gilead had failed to respond (Gilead had a reputation for failing to respond to the call to arms (Judges 5:17)). And it was not a... read more
Judes 21. Benjamin Saved from Extinction.— Two versions of this story have been editorially combined. The second is evidently the older. It was stated that the children of Israel came together as one man ( Judges 20:1; Judges 20:11), but it now appears that Jabesh-gilead, the city that was so loyal to Saul the Benjamite ( 1 Samuel 11:1 f; 1 Samuel 31:11 f., 2 Samuel 2:5 f; 2 Samuel 21:12 f.), did not send a single man to fight against Benjamin. For this sin, all the inhabitants are “... read more
A city in Gilead, and in the tribe of Manasseh; of which see 1 Samuel 11:1,1 Samuel 11:3,1 Samuel 11:9, &c.; 1 Samuel 31:11, &c. read more
A GREAT CALAMITY PREVENTED(Judges 21:1-25.)HOMILETICS1. Zeal is always right in denouncing sin.It would have showed a lamentable lack of the reverence due to the God of Israel, if such a hideous revelation of evil as that which was discovered at Gibeah, had not met with a loud and emphatic protest on the part of His covenant people. The Church at Ephesus was commended because they “could not bear them that were evil.” In the present case, tolerance to Benjamin would have been treason to... read more
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George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Judges 21:7
In general. Hebrew, "by the Lord," with an imprecation, ver. 18. (Menochius) read more