Judges 21:1

_NOW THE MEN OF ISRAEL HAD SWORN IN MIZPEH, SAYING, THERE SHALL NOT ANY OF US GIVE HIS DAUGHTER UNTO BENJAMIN TO WIFE._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

CHAPTER XXI _The Israelites mourn because of the desolation of Benjamin, and_ _consult the Lord_, 1-4. _They inquire who of Israel had not come to this war, as they had_ _vowed that those who would not make this a common cause should_ _be put to death_, 5, 6. _They consult how they shall procure wives for the_ six hundred _men who had fled to the rock Rimmon_, 7. _Finding that the men of Jabesh-gilead had not come to the war,_ _they send_ twelve thousand _men against them, smite them, and_ _bring off_ four hundred vi

NOW THE MEN OF ISRAEL HAD SWORN IN MIZPEH,.... Where they were there convened, before the war began; after they had heard the account the Levite gave of the affair, which brought them thither; and after they had sent messengers to Benjamin to deliver up the men of Gibeah, that had committed the wickedness; and after they perceived that Benjamin did not hearken to their demand, but prepared to make war with them; then, as they resolved on the destruction of Gibeah, and of all the cities that sent out men against them, even all the inhabitants of them, men, women, and children, entered into an oath, that they would use those men that remained as Heathens, and not intermarry with them, as follows: SAYING, THERE SHALL NOT ANY OF US GIVE HIS DAUGHTER UNTO BENJAMIN TO WIFE; seeing those that used the wife of the Levite in such a base manner, and those that protected and defended them, deserve...

CHAPTER 21 THE REPENTANCE ABOUT BENJAMIN _ 1. Sorrow of the people and Jabesh-Gilead smitten (Judges 21:1)_ 2. The restoration of Benjamin (Judges 21:16) A tribe of the nation was almost entirely exterminated. Then the oath they had made not to give their daughters to wife to the Benjamites left assured the complete extinction of the tribe. The dreadful work they had done dawned suddenly upon them and weeping before Jehovah they said, “Why is this come to pass in Israel that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?” The answer surely was, it came to pass on account of their departure from God and their sins. Thus people ask when they behold the scenes of bloodshed and war, as we see in our times, why is this? and are even ready to blame God, instead of thinking of sin and

JUDES 21. BENJAMIN SAVED FROM EXTINCTION. Two versions of this story have been editorially combined. The second is evidently the older. It was stated that the children of Israel came together as one man (Judges 20:1; Judges 20:11), but it now appears that Jabesh-gilead, the city that was so loyal to Saul the Benjamite (1 Samuel 11:1 f; 1 Samuel 31:11 f., 2 Samuel 2:5 f; 2 Samuel 21:12 f.), did not send a single man to fight against Benjamin. For this sin, all the inhabi

HAD SWORN: i.e. before the fighting of Judges 20....

_had sworn in Mizpah_ Probably, like Jephthah's vow (Judges 11:30 _n._), a religious oath made at the sanctuary (Judges 20:1). This solemn oath, which could neither be broken nor withdrawn, is an essential feature of both narratives (Judges 21:18_; Judges 21:22_A; 7 B); it created the problem for which some solution had to be found....

_THE PEOPLE BEWAIL THE DESOLATION OF BENJAMIN: THEY SEND TO JABESH-GILEAD, AND DESTROY THE INHABITANTS, EXCEPT FOUR HUNDRED VIRGINS, WHO ARE MARRIED TO SO MANY OF THE REMAINING BENJAMITES; THE REST OF WHOM AFTERWARDS CARRY OFF TWO HUNDRED VIRGINS FROM SHILOH, AND MARRY THEM._ _Before Christ 1426._...

_Mourning for Benjamin Judges 21:1-7_ Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife. 2 And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; 3 And said, O Lord God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel? 4 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. 5 And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the Lord? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the Lord to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death, 6 And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and sa

HAD SWORN] see on Judges 17:2. All the women and children in Benjamin have been massacred: cp. Judges 21:16....