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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 21:8

And they said, what one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the Lord ?.... This is asked not only to bring them to justice, and put them to death, according to their oath, who should be found guilty, Judges 21:5 but as an expedient to find wives for the surviving Benjaminites; since these, as they came not to Mizpeh, so consequently swore not that they would not give their daughters to Benjaminites; wherefore from among them wives might be given to them, without... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 21:8

There came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead - As they had sworn to destroy those who would not assist in this war, Judges 21:5 , they determined to destroy the men of Jabesh, and to leave none alive except the virgins, and to give these to the six hundred Benjamites that had escaped to the rock Rimmon. So twelve thousand men went, smote the city, and killed all the males and all the married women. The whole account is dreadful; and none could have been guilty of all these... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 21:8

Jabesh-Galead - Is here mentioned for the first time. (See marginal references.) The name of Jabesh survives only in the Wady Yabes (running down to the east bank of the Jordan), near the head of which are situated the ruins called Ed-Deir, which are identified with Jabesh-Gilead. 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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 21:8

THE DESTRUCTION OF JABESH-GILEAD (Judges 21:8-12)"And they said, What one is there, of the tribes of Israel that came not up unto Jehovah to Mizpah? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-Gilead to the assembly. For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead there. And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying; Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead with the edge of the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 21:8

8. there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly—This city lay within the territory of eastern Manasseh, about fifteen miles east of the Jordan, and was, according to JOSEPHUS, the capital of Gilead. The ban which the assembled tribes had pronounced at Mizpeh seemed to impose on them the necessity of punishing its inhabitants for not joining the crusade against Benjamin; and thus, with a view of repairing the consequences of one rash proceeding, they hurriedly rushed to the... 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

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