Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 20:4
And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that [belongeth] to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
The Levite; to whose relation the other two gave them consent.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4-7. the Levite, the husband of thewoman that was slain, answered and saidThe injured husbandgave a brief and unvarnished recital of the tragic outrage, fromwhich it appears that force was used, which he could not resist. Histestimony was doubtless corroborated by those of his servant and theold Ephraimite. There was no need of strong or highly coloreddescription to work upon the feelings of the audience. The factsspoke for themselves and produced one common sentiment of detestationand vengeance.
Jud20:8-17. THEIR DECREE.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered, and said,…. He rose up, and, in answer to their request, declared the whole affair as follows: and none so proper as he, who was upon the spot when it was done, and so near a relation of the deceased, and had a right to demand justice to be done; for from hence it appears that she was his lawful wife, though called a concubine:
I came into Gibeah, that belongeth to Benjamin; which he so particularly describes, to distinguish it from another of the same name in the tribe of Judah, lest any mistake should be made, and an innocent people should suffer in their reputation, or otherwise; and which also would account for the tribe of Benjamin not being present at this convention:
I and my concubine, to lodge; thither they came, not with an intention to stay, to sojourn there, and much less to do them any injury, or to infringe any of their rights and privileges; nor in the least to be burdensome to them, having brought all necessary provisions with them for themselves, servants, and cattle, only to get a night’s lodging with them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Jdg 20:4 a
‘And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said.’
He stood up before the judges in order to testify to the hearing the facts of the case.
Jdg 20:4-5 (4b-5)
“I came into Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine to lodge. And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about against me by night. Me they thought to have slain, and my concubine they forced, and she is dead.”
The testimony was clear and straightforward, although protecting his honour. The main motive of the men is not mentioned, possibly because he did not want to be associated with such an idea, or possibly as being something he was ashamed to mention in public, but he had had no doubt as to what would have been the end result, especially when he resisted. All present would understand what he meant by the humbling or forcing of his concubine, multiple rape. And it had been so vicious that she had died as a result.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
I pass by the relation of the story itself, (for we had it before in the preceding chapter) to call the Reader’s attention to the Levites appeal. What are, or ought to be the children of Israel? Moses had told them long before; Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, Deu 7:6 . Faithfulness to the God of their salvation, and the most brotherly love and attachment to one another, were implied in this honourable distinction. Nothing therefore could have been more admirably chosen, in the Levite, than to appeal to their feelings, under this high title.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 20:4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that [belongeth] to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
Ver. 4. The husband of the woman. ] She was not then his harlot, but a secondary wife, as is before noted.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the Levite. Hebrew = “the man, the Levite”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Levite: Heb. the man the Levite
I came: Jdg 19:15-28
Reciprocal: Jos 18:28 – Gibeath Hos 5:8 – Gibeah