Judges 20:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 20:12-17

Here is, I. The fair and just demand which the tribes of Israel, now encamped, sent to the tribe of Benjamin, to deliver up the malefactors of Gibeah to justice, Jdg. 20:12, 13. If the tribe of Benjamin had come up, as they ought to have done, to the assembly, and agreed with them in their resolution, there would have been none to deal with but the men of Gibeah only, but they, by their absence, taking part with the criminals, application must be made to them all. The Israelites were zealous... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:16

Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded ,.... According to Ben Gersom, these were the seven hundred men of Gibeah; but this does not appear from the text, but, on the contrary, that these were among all the people; or there were so many to be selected out of them all, who were lefthanded men; nor is it likely that all the inhabitants of one place should be such. Benjamin signifies a son of the right hand, yet this tribe had a great number of lefthanded men in it,... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 20:15-17

Comparing the numbers here with those in Numbers 1:0; Numbers 26:0, it is seen that in the case both of the Benjamites and the Israelites the numbers are diminished by about one-third, i. e., they appear as about two-thirds only of what they were at the last numbering in the plains of Moab. This diminution seems to indicate disturbed and harassing times. With this agrees the mention of the cities, as containing the whole Benjamite population. The inference is that the open country and unwalled... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 20:16

Judges 20:16. Could sling stones at a hair’s breadth, and not miss A hyperbolical expression, signifying that they could do this with great exactness. This extraordinary skill in their arms (for it is likely they handled other weapons with the like dexterity) and their natural courage, imboldened the Benjamites with such a small number to undertake a war against such a vast multitude of their brethren, the other Israelites; which warlike disposition of theirs was foretold by Jacob, for he... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 20:1-48

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 20:16

lefthanded. Hebrew lame, or bound, in his right hand. hair breadth = a hair. No Ellipsis, omit "breadth". miss. Hebrew. chata'. See App-44 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 20:16

16. left-handed; every one could sling stones at an hair-breadth, and not miss—The sling was one of the earliest weapons used in war. The Hebrew sling was probably similar to that of the Egyptian, consisting of a leather thong, broad in the middle, with a loop at one end, by which it was firmly held with the hand; the other end terminated in a lash, which was let slip when the stone was thrown. Those skilled in the use of it, as the Benjamites were, could hit the mark with unerring certainty. A... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 20:1-48

2. The civil war in Israel ch. 20This chapter continues the story begun in chapter 19. The emphasis in chapter 19 was on moral degeneracy and that of chapter 20 is Israel’s political disorganization. One man’s sin in chapter 19 resulted in over 65,000 deaths in chapter 20 (cf. Joshua 7). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 20:12-19

Attempt at a peaceful settlement 20:12-19The 11 tribes wisely tried to settle this problem with the Benjamites peacefully (Judges 20:12; cf. Joshua 22:13-20). Unfortunately the Benjamites decided to support the residents of Gibeah who were their kinsmen. They should have sided with "their brothers" (Judges 20:13; Judges 20:23; Judges 20:28) who were the other Israelites. The Benjamites decided to support their kinsmen because they were their relatives, rather than standing with God for what was... read more

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