Judges 19:13-30

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 19:16-21

Though there as not one of Gibeah, yet it proved there was one in Gibeah, that showed some civility to this distressed Levite, who was glad that any one took notice of him. It was strange that some of those wicked people, who, when it was dark, designed so ill to him and his concubine, did not, under pretence of kindness, invite them in, that they might have a fairer opportunity of perpetrating their villany; but either they had not wit enough to be so designing, or not wickedness enough to be... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 19:22-30

Here is, I. The great wickedness of the men of Gibeah. One could not imagine that ever it should enter into the heart of men that had the use of human reason, of Israelites that had the benefit of divine revelation, to be so very wicked. ?Lord, what is man!? said David, ?what a mean creature is he!? ?Lord, what is man,? may we say upon the reading of this story, ?what a vile creature is he, when he is given up to his own heart's lusts!? The sinners are here called sons of Belial, that is,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 19:13

And he said to his servant, come, and let us draw near ,.... And get on as fast as we can: to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah ; which were both in the tribe of Benjamin, and he left it to his servant to go to either, to that which was most convenient, because of the time of the day, it being near sun setting; now, as before observed, Gibeah was not quite four miles from Jerusalem; whereas, according to Jerom F19 De loc. Heb. fol. 94. B. , Ramah was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 19:14

And they passed on, and went their way ,.... Proceeded on in their journey from Jebus or Jerusalem, near to which they were: and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin ; which is added, to distinguish it from another Gibeah in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:57 when they were come pretty near to this place, on the side of it, as it seems, the sun was just setting, which determined them to take up their lodging here, as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 19:15

And they turned aside thither to go in and lodge in Gibeah ,.... Instead of going right forward, and passing by Gibeah, over against which they were, they turned out of their road, and went into the city to seek a lodging in it: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city ; to see whether any person would invite him into any of their houses, as was usual in those hospitable times and countries, and where there were few inns for the entertainment of travellers and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 19:16

And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even ,.... Which is the time that men come from their labour, and take their rest; and this man, though a man in years, and of some substance, as appears by what follows, yet attended the business of his calling, which was very commendable in him: which was also of Mount Ephraim ; as the Levite was, which when the old man understood, he was the more ready no doubt to receive him into his house: and he sojourned in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 19:17

And when he had lifted up his eyes ,.... For it may be, as he came out of the field, he was musing and meditating with his eyes downwards directed, but coming into the city looked up: he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city ; whom he supposed to be a traveller and a stranger by his dress, and other circumstances, having never seen him before, and knowing pretty well the inhabitants of the place: and the old man said, whither goest thou? and whence comest thou ? the meaning... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 19:18

And he said unto him, we are passing from Bethlehemjudah ,.... He answers to his last question first, for this was the place from whence they came: towards the side of Mount Ephraim : thither they were going, which is an answer to the first question: and then adds, which is more than what was requested: from thence am I ; that is, he was an inhabitant of a city on one side of Mount Ephraim, but what that city was, he says not, nor is it elsewhere said: and I went to Bethlehemjudah... read more

John Gill

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

Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses ,.... Straw to litter them with, and provender to feed them with, which he had brought with him on them: and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thine handmaid ; meaning himself and his concubine; there were enough for them both, which were packed up, and carried by the asses: and for the young man which is with thy servants ; the supplement, which is, seems quite needless, and even impertinent; for as yet the young man, by... read more

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