Judges 21:8-15

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 21:9

For the people were numbered ,.... To know who did come up, and who did not, and particularly to know whether the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead did or not, against whom an information was brought: and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there ; for as yet none that came had returned home; all came to Shiloh first, to pay their devotion to the Lord; and as none were found among the living, it did not appear they were among the slain; and very probably the muster roll... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 21:10

And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest ,.... That were in their army; in the Vulgate Latin version it is only 10,000; but the Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, and Josephus F3 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 10.) , agree with the Hebrew text. This place, according to Bunting, to which this army was sent, was fifty two miles from Shiloh F4 Travels, &c.; p. 121. : and commanded them, saying ; these were the orders they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 21:11

And this is the thing that ye shall do ,.... Which they gave them in charge to execute: ye shall utterly destroy every male ; without any reserve, young or old, married or unmarried: and every woman that hath lain by man ; whether lawfully or unlawfully, in a married or unmarried state. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 21:12

And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins ,.... Or damsel virgins F5 נערה בתולה "puellam viginem", Montanus; "puellas virgines", Pagninus, Tigurine version, Drusius, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; damsels that were virgins: that had known no man by lying with any male: which was judged of by their age, and by their unmarried state, and by common report, unless it can be thought they were examined by matrons; but how it was that they were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 21:13

And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin ,.... Sent some messengers to them, to call them, and desire them to come to them: that were in the rock Rimmon ; the six hundred men who had hid themselves in a cave in it, of which the people of Israel were informed: and to call peaceably unto them ; to proclaim peace to them, and assure them of it, and to let them know that they had no ill design against them, that they might come safely to them, and would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 21:14

And Benjamin came again at that time ,.... The six hundred Benjaminites returned with the messengers at the same time to the people of Israel, putting confidence in the assurances they had given them of peace and safety: and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead ; in doing which they supposed they had not violated their oath, since though they had sworn that they would not give their own daughters, they had not sworn they would not give the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 21:15

And the people repented them for Benjamin ,.... That they had destroyed all their women, and that they had saved no more of the daughters of Jabeshgilead, not a sufficient number to be wives to the Benjaminites: because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel ; by almost destroying one of them; for though this was done by the Israelites, yet by the permission and according to the will of God, and through his overruling providence. 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

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