Judges 19:1

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 19:1

And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel ,.... The same is observed in Judges 17:6 and refers to the same times, the times before the judges, between them and the death of Joshua, during which time there was no supreme magistrate or ruler in Israel, which is meant; and this is observed, as before, to account for wickedness being committed with impunity, such as adultery, sodomy, murder, &c.; afterwards related: that there was a certain Levite sojourning on... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 19:1

There was no king in Israel - All sorts of disorders are attributed to the want of civil government; justice, right, truth, and humanity, had fallen in the streets. Took to him a concubine - We have already seen that the concubine was a sort of secondary wife; and that such connections were not disreputable, being according to the general custom of those times. The word פילגש pilegesh , concubine, is supposed by Mr. Parkhurst to be compounded of פלג palag , "to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 19:1

A concubine - See the margin. The name does not imply any moral reproach. A concubine was as much the man’s wife as the woman so called, though she had not the same rights. See Judges 19:3-4. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 19:1

Judges 19:1. Who took him a concubine Hebrew, a wife, a concubine, that is, such a concubine as was also his wife: called a concubine only because she was not endowed. Perhaps he had nothing to endow her with, being himself only a sojourner. “Women of this sort differed little from the wife, except in some outward ceremonies and stipulations, but agreed with her in all the true essentials of marriage, and gave themselves up to the husband, (for so he is called in the next chapter, Judges... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 19:1

in those days. In the same days as Ch. Judges 18:1 . Soon after the death of Joshua. Figure of speech Hysterologia. App-6 . no king. See note on Judges 18:1 . a certain Levite. The house of God neglected. Priests and Levites unemployed and wandering about. Compare Judges 17:7 . mount = the hill country of. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 19:1

EXAMPLE 2THE NEAR EXTERMINATION OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN (Judges 19-21)THE ATROCIOUS MURDER OF A LEVITE'S CONCUBINEIn these chapters, the near-total collapse of moral integrity in Israel occurred. Richard Halverson, as quoted by Campbell, stated that:"Here we have the sewer of Scripture ... the most disgusting story in the Bible, unredeemed by an admirable character or a noble act. To read these chapters is to be repelled by them; and one cannot help feeling rather dirty. It is almost as bad as... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 19:1

CHAP. XIX. A Levite passes the night in Gibeah of Benjamin: the men of Gibeah abuse his concubine to death: the Levite divides her body into twelve parts, which he sends to the twelve tribes. Before Christ 1426. Judges 19:1. Took to him a concubine— Women of this sort differed little from the wife, except in some outward ceremonies and stipulations, but agreed with her in all the true essences of marriage, and gave themselves up to the husband, (for so he is called in the next chapter, Judges... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 19:1

1. it came to pass in those days—The painfully interesting episode that follows, together with the intestine commotion the report of it produced throughout the country, belongs to the same early period of anarchy and prevailing disorder. a certain Levite . . . took to him a concubine—The priests under the Mosaic law enjoyed the privilege of marrying as well as other classes of the people. It was no disreputable connection this Levite had formed; for a nuptial engagement with a concubine wife... read more

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