_A.M. 2598. B.C. 1406._ The lamentation of Israel over Benjamin, Judges 21:1. They procure wives for the remaining Benjamites of the virgins of Jabesh-gilead, Judges 21:8. And of the daughters of Shiloh, Judges 21:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh_ When they first assembled there in the beginning of this war, after the whole tribe had espoused the quarrel of the men of Gibeah. _Saying_ They do not here swear the utter extirpation of the tribe, which fell out beyond their expectation, but only not to give... [ Continue Reading ]
_And lift up their voices and wept sore_ Some days after their fury was over, and they coolly considered what they had done in the heat of war, their joy and triumph for their victory were turned into mourning and lamentation, for the loss of so many of their brethren.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why is this come to pass?_ They had no reason to ask the cause, or by what means it came to pass, which they knew too well; but this is a common expression of grief or complaint. Strange! when they uttered this for the loss of the tribe which they imagined must be extinct, because there were no wom... [ Continue Reading ]
_The people rose early and built there an altar_ It is likely that they erected a new altar upon this present occasion, when such a multitude of sacrifices were to be offered by all the people of Israel, that the ordinary altar was not sufficient to receive them. Thus Solomon did when he dedicated t... [ Continue Reading ]
_That came not up with the congregation_ When summoned to come together under a great penalty upon those who absented themselves. _For they had made a great oath_ That is, a solemn oath, joined with some terrible execration against the offenders herein. This oath probably was made by the great assem... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall utterly destroy every male_, &c. Strange infatuation of the human mind! That they should imagine the Divine Majesty would be more honoured and pleased by an action quite contrary to, and abhorrent from, his essential nature and attributes, than if they had implored his pardon for a rash oa... [ Continue Reading ]
_They brought them into the camp_ If the vow they had made would admit of their sparing the virgins, why could they not also, in consistency with that oath, have spared the other women and children, and innocent persons, and only punished the guilty? But it is evident “that convenience, rather than... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord had made a breach_, &c. The Benjamites were the only authors of the sin, but God was the author of the punishment, who employed the Israelites as his executioners to inflict it. They, however, had greatly exceeded their commission, and exercised a severity not enjoined.... [ Continue Reading ]
_There must be an inheritance for Benjamin_ The words, _There must be_, are not in the Hebrew, which runs thus: _The inheritance of them that are escaped is for Benjamin;_ that is, the six hundred remaining Benjamites must have that part of the country which was given to the whole tribe by the divin... [ Continue Reading ]
_A feast_ Probably it was the feast of tabernacles, which they celebrated with more than ordinary joy. And that feast was the only season at which the Jewish virgins were allowed to dance. But even this was not mixed dancing. No men danced with these daughters of Shiloh. Nor did the married women so... [ Continue Reading ]
_Daughters of Shiloh_ By whom we may understand not those only who were born or settled inhabitants there, but all those who were come thither upon this occasion, and for a time sojourned there: for although only the males were obliged to go up to the three solemn feasts, yet the women had liberty t... [ Continue Reading ]
_They took them wives according to their number_ That is, each man took his wife. By which we may see, they had no very favourable opinion of polygamy, because they did not allow it in this case, when it might seem most necessary for the reparation of a lost tribe. _And repaired the cities_ By degre... [ Continue Reading ]
_In those days there was no king in Israel_ There were elders, (Judges 21:16,) who had some authority, and there was a high-priest, (Judges 20:28,) but there was no supreme governor, such as Moses and Joshua were, and after them the judges, and none that had power sufficient to punish public wrongs,... [ Continue Reading ]