judges-20:1-18-esv

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:18

And the children of Israel arose ,.... From Mizpeh, where they were assembled, having heard that the Benjaminites were gathered together to defend the men of Gibeah: and went up to the house of God ; to the tabernacle which was in Shiloh, Judges 18:31 , see Joshua 18:1 though the Targum takes Bethel for the name of a place so called; and so do Ben Gersom and Josephus F16 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 10.) , which was near Shiloh, for Shiloh is said to be on the north... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:1

Unto the Lord in Mizpeh - This city was situated on the confines of Judah and Benjamin, and is sometimes attributed to the one, sometimes to the other. It seems that there was a place here in which the Lord was consulted, as well as at Shiloh; in 1 Maccabees 3:46, we read, In Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime in Israel. These two passages cast light on each other. Some think that Shiloh is meant, because the ark was there; but the phrase before the Lord may signify no... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:2

The chief of all the people - The corners פנות pinnoth ; for as the corner-stones are the strength of the walls, so are the chiefs the strength of the people. Hence Christ is called the chief corner-stone. In the assembly of the people of God - The Septuagint translate, And all the tribes of Israel stood up before the face of the Lord, εν εκκλησιᾳ του λαου του Θεου , in the Church of the people of God. Here was a Church, though there was no priest; for, as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:3

Tell us , how was this wickedness ? - They had heard before, by the messengers he sent with the fragments of his wife's body; but they wish to hear it, in full council, from himself. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:8

We will not any of us go to his tent - We will have satisfaction for this wickedness before we return home. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:10

Ten men of a hundred - Expecting that they might have a long contest, they provide suttlers for the camp; and it is probable that they chose these tenths by lot. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:13

Deliver us the men - Nothing could be fairer than this. They wish only to make the murderers answerable for their guilt. Benjamin would not hearken - Thus making their whole tribe partakers of the guilt of the men of Gibeah. By not delivering up those bad men, they in effect said: "We will stand by them in what they have done, and would have acted the same part had we been present." This proves that the whole tribe was excessively depraved. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:15

Twenty and six thousand - Some copies of the Septuagint have twenty-three thousand, others twenty-five thousand. The Vulgate has this latter number; the Complutensian Polyglot and Josephus have the same. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:16

Left-handed - They were ambidexters - could use the right hand and the left with equal ease and effect. See the note on Judges 3:15 . Could sling stones at a hair - and not miss - יחטא ולא velo yachati , and not sin: και ουκ εξαμαρτανοντες ; Sept. Here we have the true import of the term sin; it signifies simply to miss the mark, and is well translated in the New Testament by ἁμαρτανω , from α , negative, and μαρπτω , to hit the mark. Men miss the mark of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:18

Went up to the house of God - Some think that a deputation was sent from Shiloh, where Phinehas the high priest was, to inquire, not concerning the expediency of the war, nor of its success, but which of the tribes should begin the attack. Having so much right on their side, they had no doubt of the justice of their cause. Having such a superiority of numbers, they had no doubt of success. See the note on Judges 20:1 . And the Lord said , Judah - But he did not say... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:18

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