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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 19:1-15

The domestic affairs of this Levite would not have been related thus largely but to make way for the following story of the injuries done him, in which the whole nation interested themselves. Bishop Hall's first remark upon this story is, That there is no complain of a public ordered state but there is a Levite at one end of it, either as an agent or as a patient. In Micah's idolatry a Levite was active; in the wickedness of Gibeah a Levite was passive; no tribe shall sooner feel the want of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 19:6

And they sat down ,.... Not only sat down upon their seats again, the Levite having rose up in order to go away, but sat down at table: and did eat and drink both of them together ; both the Levite and his father-in-law; and it appears by this, and what follows, that the Levite did not take only a short repast, or breakfast with him, but stayed and dined with him, when they ate a plentiful meal, and drank freely after dinner: for the damsel's father had said to the man, be content, I... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 19:7

And when the man rose up to depart ,.... Rose up from table, having ate and drank sufficiently, in order to depart the house, and proceed on his journey: his father in law urged him ; with much entreaty, and earnest solicitations, that he would stay all night with him: therefore he lodged there again ; another night, being prevailed upon through his father's importunity. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 19:8

And he rose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart ,.... With a full intention to take his leave of his father, and be gone: and the damsel's father said, comfort thine heart, I pray thee ; with a meal's meat, with a breakfast, before he set out on his journey, that he might be heartier and stronger for it: and they tarried until afternoon ; or "until the decline of the day" F13 עד נטות היום "usque ad declinare diem", Montanus; to the same purpose Pagninus,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 19:9

And when the man rose up to depart, he and his concubine, and his servant ,.... Rose up from table, having comfortably refreshed themselves: his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, behold, now the day draweth towards evening ; or is "remiss", or "weak" F14 רפה "debilitata est", Pagninus, Vatablus; "remissus est", Junius & Tremellius. ; that is, the heat, light, and strength of the sun abated, and became weaker and more remiss, as it does the more it declines,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 19:8

And they tarried until afternoon - Merely that they might avoid the heat of the day, which would have been very inconvenient in travelling. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 19:9

The day groweth to an end - היום חנות chanoth haiyom , "the day is about to pitch its tent;" that is, it was near the time in which travelers ordinarily pitched their tents, to take up their lodging for the night. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 19:9

This is a perfect picture of the manners of the time. It is probable that the father showed more than usual hospitality, in order to ensure the kind treatment of his daughter by her husband. These particulars are given to account for their journey running so far into the evening, which was the immediate cause of the horrible catastrophe which followed. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 19:1-30

The war with Benjamin (19:1-21:25)A Levite whose concubine had run away from him came to Judah looking for her. When they were reunited, her father was so pleased he did not want them to leave. They therefore stayed with him a few days, then set out to return to the Levite’s home in Ephraim (19:1-9).The route back to Ephraim took the couple through the tribal territory of Benjamin. Looking for somewhere to sleep the night, they preferred not to stay in Jerusalem, which was inhabited by... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 19:8

8. tarried—with reluctance. until afternoon—literally, "the decline of the day." People in the East, who take little or nothing to eat in the morning, do not breakfast till from ten to twelve A.M., and this meal the hospitable relative had purposely protracted to so late a period as to afford an argument for urging a further stay. read more

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