Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 21:3
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?
3 . one tribe lacking ] of the sacred number twelve. Contrast the expression of the similar sentiment in the older narrative, Jdg 21:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The repetition of the name of Israel is very striking in connection with the title of Yahweh as God of Israel. It contains a very forcible pleading of the covenant, and memorial of the promises. The very name Israel comprehended all the twelve tribes; with one of them blotted out, the remnant would not be Israel.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Why is this come to pass] This was a very impertinent question. They knew well enough how it came to pass. It was right that the men of Gibeah should be punished, and it was right that they who vindicated them should share in that punishment; but they carried their revenge too far, they endeavoured to exterminate both man and beast, Jdg 20:48.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Why hast thou given them up to such wickedness, and us to such rage, that the whole tribe should be in a manner lost? Hence it appears that they did not swear to root them all out, as is further manifest from the different matter and words of this oath, Jdg 21:1, which only denied them their daughters in marriage; and that concerning the people of other tribes who joined not with them in this business, which was, that they should be put to death, Jdg 21:5. And their sparing of those six hundred men in the rock Rimmon, Jdg 21:13,14, plainly shows that they were not obliged by any oath or vow to extirpate them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And said, O Lord God of Israel,…. Jehovah, the only living and true God, the Being of beings, eternal, immutable, omnipotent and omnipresent, the God of all Israel, of the twelve tribes of Israel, their covenant God and Father; who had shown favour to them in such a peculiar and gracious manner, as he had not to other nations, and therefore hoped he would still have a kind regard unto them, and suffer them to expostulate with him in the following manner:
why is this come to pass in Israel; expressing, as Abarbinel thinks, a concern for the 40,000 men of Israel which fell in the two first battles; but it manifestly refers to the case in the next words:
that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel; meaning the tribe of Benjamin, which was all destroyed, excepting six hundred men, and these had no wives to propagate the tribe; and therefore, unless some provision could be made for that, it must in a short time be totally extinct; for which they express great concern, it not being their intention when they made the above oath to extirpate them; but such were now the circumstances of things in Providence, that it must perish unless some way could be found to relieve it, and which their oath seemed to preclude; and this threw them into great perplexity.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Why is this come to pass . . .?This is not so much an inquiry into the cause, which was indeed too patent, but a wail of regret, implying a prayer to be enlightened as to the best means of averting the calamity. The repetition of the name Israel three times shows that the nation had not yet lost its sense of corporate unity, often as that unity had been rent asunder by their civil dissensions. Their wild justice is mingled with a still wilder mercy.
One tribe lacking.The number twelve had an almost mystic significance, and is always preserved in reckoning up the tribes, whether Levi is included or excluded.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. One tribe lacking in Israel A fearful thought thus came over them after the hour of bitterness and passion had gone, and calm reflection returned, “God had taken care of every tribe,” remarks Henry; “their number twelve was that which they were known by; every tribe had his station appointed in the camp, and his stone in the high priest’s breastplate; every tribe had his blessing, both from Jacob and Moses, and it would be an intolerable reproach to them if they should drop any out of this illustrious jury, and lose one out of twelve; especially Benjamin, the youngest, who was particularly dear to Jacob, their common ancestor. Benjamin is not; what then will become of Jacob? Benjamin become a Benoni! the son of the right hand a son of sorrow!” Gen 35:18.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And they said, “Oh Yahweh, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel that there should be today one tribe lacking?”
What they were asking was what had been the causes that had brought this about. What had led Benjamin to become caught up in the Canaanite religion and ways? So do men behave when they are unaware of their own weaknesses. Some of them were in danger of the same thing. The answer, of course, was that they had fraternised with the Canaanites in spite of God’s prohibition. They had disobeyed God.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 21:3 And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?
Ver. 3. Why is this come to pass in Israel? ] q.d., Alas, Lord, that it should be so! Oh, show us some expedient for prevention of such a mischief. Oh, the sad effects of our rage and rashness, which now in cold blood we repent us off, but know not which way to remedy!
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
LORD God = Jehovah Elohim. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
tribe
There is here no mourning for sin, no humbling because of national transgression, no return to Jehovah. Accordingly, no word from Jehovah comes to them. They act wholly in self-will (Jdg 21:10). CF.; 21:10; Dan 9:3-13.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
why is: Deu 29:24, Jos 7:7-9, Psa 74:1, Psa 80:12, Pro 19:3, Isa 63:17, Jer 12:1
Reciprocal: Jdg 17:6 – no king
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 21:3. 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 women left to match with the six hundred men who had saved themselves in the rock Rimmon, that they did not pour forth the deepest expressions of sorrow and contrition for their own wickedness, in having been guilty of such inhumanity toward the innocent among the Benjamites, particularly the women and children, who could not be culpable in any degree. Alas! what crimes is human nature capable of! and what need is there of the divine grace to renew and influence the heart of man!