Judges 19
DOYLYChap. XX. ver. 1.—all the children of Israel] Except the people of Jabeah-gilead, chap. xxi. 8, 8, and the tribe of Benjamin. Bp. Patrick.
—from Dan even to Beer-sheba.] See note at Gen. xxi. 31. The city Dan was the utmost of all Israel to the north or northeast, as Beer-sheba was to the south or southwest; hence this expression is frequently used to denote the length of the land of Israel.
—unto the Lord in Mizpeh.] To the tabernacle which was in Shiloh, to consult the Lord, and to encamp together in Mizpeh, which was near Shiloh, on the confines of Judah and Benjamin. Dr. Wells.
Judges 19:9
- — the day draweth toward evening.] In the Hebrew the words are, (as stated in the margin,) “It is the pitching time of the day.” The term pitching, here used, undoubtedly refers to tents, and intimates that the day is so far advanced, as to make it proper to pitch a tent, and halt for the night. So it is said, in Dr. Shaw’s Travels, “Our constant practice was to rise at break of day, set forward with the sun, and travel till the middle of the afternoon: at which time we began to look out for the encampments of the Arabs; who, to prevent such parties as ours from living at free charges upon them, take care to pitch in woods, valleys, or places the least conspicuous” Harmer.
Judges 19:10
10.—that they may do, &c.] One man in every ten was selected to provide forage for the army, in order that the rest might be wholly intent on punishing the inhabitants of Gibeah according to their deserts. Bp. Patrick.
Judges 19:12
- — the city of a stranger.] Jebus or Jerusalem was now occupied by its old inhabitants, and the children of Israel had little or no power there. Bp. to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go † home.
Judges 19:15
- — he sat him down in a street of the city.] See the note on Gen. xix. 2.
Judges 19:16
- — there came an old man from his work] This good old man, seeing one who was a stranger, an Israelite, a Levite, an Ephraimite, and that in his way to the house of God, proffered him the kindness of his houseroom. Industrious spirits are the fittest receptacles of kind emotions; whereas those, who give themselves to idle and loose courses, are careless even of themselves. We hear but of one man at his work in all Gibeah, the The Levite’s concubine abused. He divideth her into twelve pieces. Before CHRIST about 1666. pattereth.
16.—seven hundred chosen men lefthanded:] It is probable, as commentators observe, that when the Philistines had disarmed the Israelites of swords and spears, as we read they did, this oppressed people became so much the more diligent in the exercise of the sling, which could not be taken from them. Many ancient nations were trained to peculiar skill in the sling; among others, it is said that the Baleares, or ancient inhabitants of Majorca and Minorca, bred their children to this exercise from their cradles, and that their mothers used to set up the food of their children as a mark, which they were obliged to strike with a sling before they were permitted to eat. Reading.
—lefthanded:] Who could use the left hand as well as the right, in any exercise. See chap. iii. 15. So expert, that they could even with their left hand wield their weapons. Bp. Hall.
The Israelites lose forty thousand. They destroy Before CHRIST about 1406.
arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
Judges 19:18
- — going to the house of the Lord.] To Shiloh, where the house of God was settled, in the tribe of Ephraim: he was perhaps going thither, either to return thanks for the restoration of his wife, or to offer an expiation for her sin. Bp. Patrick.
Judges 19:21
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— and they washed their feet.] As was the custom in those countries, after travelling. See the note on Gen. xviii. 7.
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— twenty and two thousand men.] In just punishment for the general vices and idolatrous practices of the whole nation, God suffered the Benjamites to gain this signal victory over them. Pyle.
Their erreur consisted in this, that, from an excessive confidence in the goodness of their cause, and their superiority of numbers, when they went to consult God, they only inquired of Him, which of the tribes should lead the van, without placing their confidence in Him, or depending on His assistance for success, which repeated disasters soon brought to their recollection: before the third engagement, therefore, they humbled themselves, ver. 26, before God in a proper manner. Stackhouse. They fought in a holy quarrel, but with confidence in themselves: for, as presuming of victory, they asked of God, not what should be their success, but who should be their captain. Number and innocence made them too secure: it was just therefore with God to let them feel, that even good zeal cannot bear out presumption, and that victory lies not in the cause, but in the God that owns it. Bp. Hall.
Judges 19:25
- — so the man took his concubine.] This was done probably with the consent of herself and of her husband, as the least of the evils between which they had to choose. Bp. Patrick.
— and abused her] How just and even is the course which the Almighty Judge holds in all His retributions. This woman had shamed the bed of a Levite by her former wantonness, and had thus far gone away smoothly with her sins. Now, when the world had forgotten her offence, God called her to reckoning,
good unto you: but unto this man do not † so vile a thing.
Judges 19:26
- — fell down at the door] Fell down dead, probably with grief and shame, and the injury she had received.
Judges 19:27
- — enquired of the Lord,] They had inquired of the Lord before, but not as they ought to have done, and therefore no mention is made till now of the presence of God continuing among them; confiding in the justice of their cause and their vast forces, they seem to
have made but slight and hasty addresses to God before they undertook the war. Bp. Patrick.
It might have been feared that this double discomfiture would have made Israel either distrustful or weary of a good cause; but still we find them no less courageous, with more humility. Now they fast, weep, and sacrifice. These weapons would have been victorious in their first assault. Benjamin would never have been in danger of pride for overcoming, if this humiliation of Israel had preceded the fight. Bp. Hall.
Judges 19:28
- And Phinehas, — stood before it] To stand before the ark, means, to minister to God before the ark; see Deut. x. 8; xviii. 7. The fact of Phinehas being the person who now ministered, shews that the time, when the war now related took place, was not long subsequent to the death of Joshua. Bp. Patrick.
Judges 19:29
- — divided her, — with her bones, into twelve pieces.] That every tribe, Benjamin not excepted, might have a portion of her body: he hoped that there would be found among them some who would resent so foul an act, though committed by their own brethren. Bp. Patrick. The ancients had several ways of uniting themselves together in strict ties, which lasted for a stipulated time: amongst these it was very common to sacrifice a bullock or other animal, and to distribute the pieces of the body to different persons; who hereby entered into a strict engagement to espouse the interests of the person concerned. The conduct of the Levite on this occasion seems to have had a reference to this established usage; and to have been intended to bind the several tribes by an indissoluble engagement, to see justice done him for the injury he had received. Burdur.
Before CHRIST about 1666. matter of this folly. The Levite declareth his wrong. CHAP. XX. The Benjamites go against the Israelites. Before CHRIST about 1400.
- And Israel set liers in wait] This seems to intimate that, in the former onsets, they had relied too much on their numbers: but now, though they were encouraged by God Himself, they grew more humble, and less audacious in their enterprise, laying ambushes secretly in several places. Bp. Patrick.
Judges 19:31
- — Gibeah in the field,] So called to distinguish it from Gibeah on the hill, the place which they were now attacking.