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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 21:1-15

We may observe in these verses, I. The ardent zeal which the Israelites had expressed against the wickedness of the men of Gibeah, as it was countenanced by the tribe of Benjamin. Occasion is here given to mention two instances of their zeal on this occasion, which we did not meet with before:?1. While the general convention of the states was gathering together, and was waiting for a full house before they would proceed, they bound themselves with the great execration, which they called the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 21:7

How shall we do for wives for them that remain ,.... By which it seems, as well as by what is after related, that they knew of the six hundred men hid in the rock Rimmon: seeing we have sworn by the Lord ; by the Word of the Lord, as the Targum; and such an oath with them was a sacred thing, and to be kept inviolable, even to their own hurt: that we will not give them of our daughters to wives ; as in Judges 21:1 and therefore they must either marry among the Heathens, which was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 21:7

How shall we do for wives for them - From this it appears that they had destroyed all the Benjamitish women and children! They had set out with the purpose of exterminating the whole tribe, and therefore they massacred the women, that if any of the men escaped, they might neither find wife nor daughter; and they bound themselves under an oath not to give any of their females to any of the remnant of this tribe, that thus the whole tribe might utterly perish. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 21:1-25

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 21:1-25

3. The preservation of Benjamin ch. 21In chapter 20 Israel tried desperately to destroy the tribe of Benjamin. In Genesis 42:36 Jacob feared that Joseph’s brothers would do something that would result in Benjamin’s death. What he feared then almost happened now. In chapter 21 Israel tried just as hard to deliver this tribe from the extinction that her own excessive vengeance threatened to accomplish. The anarchy of God’s people complicated the problems that her apostasy had initiated. The moral... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 21:5-15

Israel’s first insufficient solution: a previous oath 21:5-15Judges 21:5-7 stress the sorrow and the dilemma the Israelites felt because of the Benjamites’ situation. The "great oath" (Judges 21:5) seems to have been that any Israelites who did not participate in the nation’s battles against her enemies should suffer God’s punishment (cf. Numbers 32:20-33). Judges 21:8-9 record the Israelites’ solution to their dilemma having asked themselves, "What shall we do?" (Judges 21:7; cf. Judges... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 21:1-25

Wives are given to the Benjamite Survivors1-6. The lamentation for Benjamin.1. Had sworn] see on Judges 17:2. All the women and children in Benjamin have been massacred: cp. Judges 21:16. 2. House of God] RV ’Bethel,’ as in Judges 20:26, Judges 20:31. 4. Burnt offerings and peace offerings] see on Judges 20:26. 5. Lit. ’the great curse had been pronounced upon,’ etc. 6. Repented them] see on Judges 2:18.7-25. The Benjamites provided with wives.8. Jabesh-gilead] i.e. Jabesh in Gilead; cp. 1... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Judges 21:1-25

Judges 21:3 If there were no fault in their severity, it needed no excuse: and if there were a fault, it will admit of no excuse: yet, as if they meant to shift off the sin, they expostulate with God, 'O Lord God of Israel, why is this come to pass this day!' God gave them no command of this rigour; yea he twice crost them in the execution; and now, in that which they entreated of God with tears, they challenge Him. It is a dangerous injustice to lay the burden of our sins upon Him, which... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Judges 21:1-25

; Judges 20:1-48; Judges 21:1-25FROM JUSTICE TO WILD REVENGEJudges 19:1-30; Judges 20:1-48; Judges 21:1-25THESE last chapters describe a general and vehement outburst of moral indignation throughout Israel, recorded for various reasons. A vile thing is done in one of the towns of Benjamin and the fact is published in all the tribes. The doers of it are defended by their clan and fearful punishment is wrought upon them, not without suffering to the entire people. Like the incidents narrated in... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Judges 21:1-25

CHAPTER 21 The Repentance About Benjamin 1. Sorrow of the people and Jabesh-Gilead smitten (Judges 21:1-15 ) 2. The restoration of Benjamin (Judges 21:16-25 ) A tribe of the nation was almost entirely exterminated. Then the oath they had made not to give their daughters to wife to the Benjamites left assured the complete extinction of the tribe. The dreadful work they had done dawned suddenly upon them and weeping before Jehovah they said, “Why is this come to pass in Israel that there... read more

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