Judges 20:2-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 20:1-11

Here is, I. A general meeting of all the congregation of Israel to examine the matter concerning the Levite's concubine, and to consider what was to be done upon it, Jdg. 20:1, 2. It does not appear that they were summoned by the authority of any one common head, but they came together by the consent and agreement, as it were, of one common heart, fired with a holy zeal for the honour of God and Israel. 1. The place of their meeting was Mizpeh; they gathered together unto the Lord there, for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:2

And the chief of all the people ,.... The princes of the tribes and heads of families, rulers of thousands, and hundreds, and fifties, and tens; or the "corners" F3 פנות "anguli", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Vatablus, Drusius, Tigurine version. , who were like the corner stones in a building, which are not only the most valuable and ornamental, but the strength of the building, which cement it, and support it, and hold it together; though Abarbinel thinks this intends the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:3

Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh ,.... Having no doubt the same notice the rest of the tribes had; but the thing complained of being done in their tribe, and by some of it, they might be willing to screen the delinquents, or were careless about and indifferent to the case, and secure and easy, as imagining their brethren would never go to war with them about it; or were proud and haughty, and would pay no regard to the summons given them: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:4

And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered, and said ,.... He rose up, and, in answer to their request, declared the whole affair as follows: and none so proper as he, who was upon the spot when it was done, and so near a relation of the deceased, and had a right to demand justice to be done; for from hence it appears that she was his lawful wife, though called a concubine: I came into Gibeah, that belongeth to Benjamin ; which he so particularly describes, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:5

And the men of Gibeah rose against me ,.... Not all of them, but some that dwelt in that city; he forbears giving them the character they justly deserved, sons of Belial. These came in a tumultuous and violent manner: and beset the house round about upon me by night ; that he might not make his escape, resolving if possible to get him into their hands, and do with him according to their will: and thought to have slain me ; their first intention was to commit the unnatural sin on him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:6

And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces ,.... Lest it should be thought that these barbarous creatures, after they had used her in such a manner that occasioned her death, that they had committed this fact also; the Levite takes it to himself, and owns that he did that: and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel ; to alarm them, and excite their attention to what had passed, and to raise their indignation against it: for they have committed lewdness... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:7

Behold, ye are all children of Israel ,.... The descendants of one man that feared the Lord; were of one nation, and of one religion, men professing godliness, and therefore ought to bear testimony against sin and wickedness of every sort, and especially such crying abominations as these: give your advice and counsel : in this place, being assembled together on this occasion; consult what is best to be done, and let every man speak his mind freely what step he thinks should be taken for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 20:8

And all the people arose as one man ,.... Either the heads of the people assembled in council, all agreed unanimously in one vote or resolution, or all the 400,000 men were of the same mind, when the case was reported to them: saying, we will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house ; that is, they would not return home, to take one nights rest in their houses, or attend to the business of their callings or to any affair of life, however urgent, till... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:2

The chief of all the people - The corners פנות pinnoth ; for as the corner-stones are the strength of the walls, so are the chiefs the strength of the people. Hence Christ is called the chief corner-stone. In the assembly of the people of God - The Septuagint translate, And all the tribes of Israel stood up before the face of the Lord, εν εκκλησιᾳ του λαου του Θεου , in the Church of the people of God. Here was a Church, though there was no priest; for, as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 20:3

Tell us , how was this wickedness ? - They had heard before, by the messengers he sent with the fragments of his wife's body; but they wish to hear it, in full council, from himself. read more

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