Bible Commentary

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. 4. built there an altar ] But an altar must have existed in the sanctuary at Beth-el when the sacrifices were offered before, Jdg 20:26. Either these words, or the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 21:4”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 21:3”

And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; 2. came to Beth-el ] The characteristics of the B narrative reappear in this chapter: the resort to Beth-el till even cf. Jdg 20:18; Jdg 20:26; the weeping, intensified each time, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 21:2”

Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife. 1. had sworn in Mizpah ] Probably, like Jephthah’s vow (Jdg 11:30 n.), a religious oath made at the sanctuary (Jdg 20:1). This solemn oath, which could neither be broken nor withdrawn, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 21:1”

And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of [every] city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to. 48. This v. (from B) records … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 20:48”

But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. 47. A’s version of the final flight. The 600 survivors have a part to play in the sequel. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges In a cave within that rock, where … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 20:47”

So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valor. 46. For the total here cf. on Jdg 20:35. This and the preceding verse appear to be, not fragments from the B narrative, but editorial additions: the first part of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 20:46”

And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them. 45. the rock of Rimmon ] now Rammn, rises from the plateau due E. of Beth-el, visible … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 20:45”

And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valor. 44. eighteen thousand men ] Contrast the number in Jdg 20:35 from B. The first half of the v. may be assigned to A, and connects with Jdg 20:47; the second half has found its way here from Jdg 20:46, probably … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 20:44”

[Thus] they enclosed the Benjamites round about, [and] chased them, [and] trod them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising. 43. The unidiomatic style ( and and are not in the original), together with the obscurity of the sense, prove that the text is corrupt. Of the various attempts to emend it, the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 20:43”