Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 21:19
Then they said, Behold, [there is] a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly [in a place] which [is] on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
19. there is a feast ] the feast (marg.). The word rendered feast ( ag) strictly implies a pilgrimage to a sanctuary; the three chief aggim were festivals at which every male Israelite was required to appear before Jehovah (Exo 23:14-17); cf. also the Mohammedan aj = the pilgrimage to Mecca. What the particular feast here was we are not told; most probably it was a vintage festival to celebrate the ingathering; for this was an occasion of special rejoicing, cf. the Canaanite feast at Shechem Jdg 9:27, and marked the end of the year (September); note that the vines were still in leaf, Jdg 21:20.
of the Lord in Shiloh ] Shiloh was a centre of Jehovah-worship at this early period, Jdg 18:31. A topographical gloss (cf. Jdg 21:12, Jdg 20:31) defines the situation in such a way as to leave no doubt that Shiloh is to be identified with the modern Seiln, some 2 miles E.S.E. of Lubbn = Lebonah; in later times, after the exile, it was probably necessary to tell readers where the ancient sites were. Obviously this addition cannot come from the author of Jdg 21:12, where Shiloh is first mentioned. 19a may be taken as addressed to the Benjamites: 20b gives the rest of the speech.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Feast was probably the Passover, or one of the three great Jewish Feasts. In these unsettled times men went up to Shiloh (Seilun) only once a year 1Sa 1:3 instead of thrice; only the males kept the Feasts, and therefore the virgins of Shiloh would naturally be the only maidens present, and the public festival would be a likely occasion for their festive dances. It is, however, possible that some particular feast unique to Shiloh is meant, like the yearly sacrifice of Davids family in Bethlehem 1Sa 20:29.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. There is a feast of the Lord] What this feast was is not known: it might be either the passover, pentecost, or the feast of tabernacles, or indeed some other peculiar to this place. All the above feasts were celebrated at that time of the year when the vines were in full leaf; therefore the Benjamites might easily conceal themselves in the vineyards; and the circumstances will answer to any of those feasts.
On the east side of the highway, c.] I can see no reason for this minute description, unless it intimates that this feast was to be held this year in rather a different place to that which was usual: and, as the Benjamites had been shut up in their strong hold in Rimmon, they might not have heard of this alteration and it was necessary, in such a case, to give them the most circumstantial information, that they might succeed in their enterprise without being discovered.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Yearly; on the three solemn feasts, in which they used some honest and holy recreations; among which dancing was one, Exo 15:20; 1Sa 18:6; 2Sa 6:14; and probably it was the feast of tabernacles, which they did celebrate with more than ordinary joy, Deu 16:13-15.
Which is on the north side of Beth-el, Heb. which is on the north of Beth-el. Which doth not relate to
Shiloh, which was so known a place, that it was frivolous to describe it by such circumstances, even by places much less known than itself; but to the
feast, which as to that part or exercise of the feast here especially concerned and mentioned, to wit, the dancing of the virgins, was not celebrated in Shiloh, but in a neighboring place more convenient for that purpose.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. on the east side of the highwaythat goeth up from Beth-el to ShechemThe exact site of theplace was described evidently for the direction of the Benjamites.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then they said,…. Some of the elders that sat in council debating this matter, and considering of ways and means to assist their brethren the Benjaminites, and preserve their tribe from being lost:
behold, there is a feast of the Lord in Shiloh yearly; where the tabernacle then was, and before which the males of Israel were obliged to appear three times of the year; and this was one of them, as is clear by its being called a feast of the Lord; and therefore cannot design any civil festival or fair kept for trade and commerce. Some have thought of the feast of the passover, but it is most likely to be the feast of tabernacles, as Abarbinel takes it to be; which in Jewish writings is emphatically called “the feast”; and the time of year when that was kept was a time of great rejoicing, on account of the fruits of the earth being gathered in, and the reading of the law and especially at the tithe of drawing of water at this feast; insomuch that it is said e that he who never saw the rejoicing at drawing of water never saw rejoicing in his life, which was attended with piping, and dancing, and singing. It is pretty strange what Kimchi notes, that this may be either one of the above feasts, or the day of atonement, at which, he says, the daughters of Israel used to go and dance in the vineyards, according to the words of the Rabbins; when though that is reckoned among the feasts, Le 23:1 it was properly a fast, as it is called, Ac 27:9 and all tokens of festivity and joy were forbidden on it; and where these words of their Rabbins are to be met with, he says not: in a place
which is on the north side of Bethel; we rightly supply “in a place”: for the intention is not to describe the situation of Shiloh, which was well known, but a place not far from it, where at this festival the daughters of Shiloh used to dance:
on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem; this place lay to the east of a public road, that led from Bethel to Shechem:
and on the south of Lebonah; which Mr. Maundrell f takes to be a place now called Kane Leban, which stands on the east side of a delightful vale, having a village of the same name standing opposite to it on the other side of the vale; one of these places, either that Kane or the village, is supposed to be the Lebonah mentioned Jud 21:19 to which both the name and situation seem to agree.
e Misn. Succah, c. 5. sect. 1, 4. Vid. Maimon. Hilchot Lulab, c. 8. sect. 13. f Journey from Aleppo, p. 63.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(19) A feast of the Lord in Shiloh.It is unlikely that the reference is to a local feast; but it is impossible to say which of the three yearly feasts is meant. The most natural would be the Feast of Tabernacles. We see from 1Sa. 1:3 that even among pious families the trying custom of going up to the Tabernacle three times a year had fallen into complete abeyance.
A place which is on the north side of Beth-el . . .This elaborate description of the site of Shiloh, a place which is so often mentioned elsewhere without any addition, is extremely curious. There can be little doubt that it is due to the marginal gloss of some Masoretic scribe, perhaps in the editing of the sacred books by Ezra. That it is a gloss seems clear, because it comes in as a parenthesis in the speech of the elders, and, of course, in their day such a description was needless. Indeed, it was spoken at Shiloh itself, and the site was well known to all Israel. But by the time that the story was committed to writing in the days of the kings, or finally edited in the days of Ezra, Shiloh had long been desolate, and probably the very site was unknown to thousands. Hence this very valuable and interesting description was added, which has alone enabled us to identify Shiloh in the modern Seiln.
South of Lebonah.Lebonah, now Lubban, is not mentioned elsewhere.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. A feast of the Lord in Shiloh One of the great yearly festivals, which, notwithstanding the irregularities of the age, were still observed at the seat of the tabernacle. Compare 1Sa 1:3, note. The context shows that the festival occurred about this time.
Lebonah Identical with the modern village Lubban, about three miles northwest of Shiloh. The particular description here given of the location of Shiloh seems to have been given to the men sent to capture the dancing maidens there, and make off with them without hinderance.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And they said, ‘Look there is a feast of Yahweh from year to year in Shiloh’, which is on the north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the South of Lebonah .’
They expressed their awareness of a coming feast of Yahweh.The connection with vineyards suggests that this was the feast of Tabernacles. All Israel would gather to the central sanctuary for the feast to celebrate the harvest and it would provide opportunity for their plan to work. The position of Shiloh was carefully described. It was an important site to Israel, and it would seem that the Tabernacle had again returned there.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 21:19. Behold, there is a feast of the Lord in Shiloh yearly The three great festivals were always to be held in the place where God fixed his habitation, which was now at Shiloh. Some have supposed, that this festival was that of the passover; but, from the festivity attending it, it is much more reasonable to suppose, that it was that of tabernacles. “Kane-laban,” says Mr. Maundrell, “stands on the east side of a delicious vale, having a village of the same name standing opposite to it on the other side of the vale. One of these places, either the Kane or the village, is supposed to have been the Lebonah here mentioned; to which both the name and situation seem to agree.” Voyage to Aleppo, p. 63. Concerning the solemn oath of the Israelites, and their manner of dispensing with it, related at the close of this chapter, see Grotius de Bell. et Pace, lib. 2: cap. 13 sect. 5.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jdg 21:19 Then they said, Behold, [there is] a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly [in a place] which [is] on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
Ver. 19. Behold, there is a feast of the Lord in Shiloh. ] What feast this was is much controverted; some say, the feast of tabernacles; others, the feast of blowing trumpets, the seventh of the first month. Num 10:10 ; Num 29:1 Others again, that it was some singular feast kept in Shiloh only to the honour of God in way of thankfulness for choosing it to set his tabernacle there; and that, haply, upon the day that it was first set up there, from year to year. Such a feast as is yet kept in Switzerland for joy of the Reformation: or as Bugenhagius kept yearly on the day that Luther and other divines finished the translation of the Holy Scriptures into the Dutch, calling it, The feast of the translation of the Bible.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
a feast of the LORD. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read “a feast to Jehovah”.
yearly. The three feasts had come down to one. Apostasy was the cause of all their internal disorders.
north side, &c. Shiloh and the house of Jehovah were so neglected that these minute instructions were necessary to enable an Israelite to find it. We have the same difficulty to-day; and when we find it we too often find, not the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. but what answers to that which we find in Jdg 21:21.
Lebonah. AUTHORIZED VERSION 1611 reads “Lebanon” by an error. Modern “Lubban”, about 3 miles north-west of Shiloh.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a feast: Exo 23:14-16, Lev 23:2, Lev 23:4, Lev 23:6, Lev 23:10, Lev 23:34, Num 10:10, Num 28:16, Num 28:26, Num 29:12, Deu 16:1, Deu 16:10, Deu 16:13, Psa 81:3, Joh 5:1, Joh 7:2
yearly: Heb. from year to year
on the east side: or, toward the sun rising
of the highway: or, on
Lebonah: Maundrell supposes, that either Khan Leban, which is situated on the eastern side of a “delicious vale,” four leagues south from Shechem, and two leagues north from Bethel, or the village of Leban, which is on the opposite side, occupies the site of the ancient Lebonah. It is eight hours, or about 24 miles, from Jerusalem, according to Dr. Richardson.
Reciprocal: Jos 18:1 – Shiloh Jos 19:51 – in Shiloh 2Sa 20:13 – the highway
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 21:19. 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 forget their gravity as to join with them. However, their dancing thus in public made them an easy prey: whence Bishop Hall observes, The ambushes of evil spirits carry away many souls from dancing to a fearful desolation.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:19 Then they said, Behold, [there is] a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly [in a place] which [is] on the {h} north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
(h) He describes the place where the maids used to dance yearly, and sing psalms and songs of God’s works among them, as the custom was then.