Judges 20

Judges 20:1

Then. These chapters (20, 21), hy Figure of speech Hysterologia, describe events which took place soon after Joshua’s death. See notes on Judges 18:1 with Judges 19:1.

children = sons.

as one man. All this excitement, unanimity, and bloodshed about an injury done to a woman; no sense of the evil of idolatry and sin against God, recorded in Judges 19.

Judges 20:2

God. Hebrew. ha-’Elohim = the [true] God. App-14. See note on Judges 18:31.

Judges 20:3

Now. Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis in this verse. App-6. Mizpeh on the south-west border of Benjamin, not Mizpeh on the east of Jordan (Judges 10:17; Judges 11:11, Judges 11:29).

wickedness. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.

Judges 20:4

the Levite. Hebrew = “the man, the Levite”.

Judges 20:5

men = masters or head-men. for the house of God was in Shiloh (Judges 18:31), also the camp of Israel (Judges 21:12).

Judges 20:16

lefthanded. Hebrew lame, or bound, in his right hand.

hair breadth = a hair. No Ellipsis, omit “breadth”.

miss. Hebrew. chata’. See App-44.

Judges 20:18

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Judges 20:23

And. Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis. App-6.

before the LORD. At Shiloh (Judges 18:31).

asked counsel. By Phinehas, with Urim and Thummim. Compare Judges 20:28, and see notes on Exodus 28:30. Numbers 26:55.

offered = offered up. See App-43.

Judges 20:28

Phinehas. The grandson of Aaron, the contemporary of Jonathan the grandson of Moses (Judges 18:30). This is the only mention of the high priest throughout the book.

Aaron. Some codices, with Syriac, add “the priest”.

Judges 20:29

coasts = borders.

Judges 20:30

no such deed done. “The days of Giheah"became proverbial. Compare Hosea 9:9; Hosea 10:9.

Judges 20:31

the house of God = Beth-el Here it denotes Beth-el. One of the three cities mentioned.

Judges 20:33

meadows. Probably = forest.

Judges 20:36

trusted. Confided or placed hope in. Hebrew. batah. App-69.

Judges 20:37

drew themselves along = marched forward.

Judges 20:40

the city = the whole city, or holocaust of the city.

Judges 20:43

over against = as far as over against.

Judges 20:47

six hundred. Compare Judges 21:13.

Judges 20:48

the men = every one.