Judges 21

Judges 21:1

IN Mizpeh] See Chap. 20. 1.

there shall not any] Out of their great detestation of that horrible wickednesse committed amongst them, which they all defended, they binde themselves by this rash oath; of which, upon more serious deliberation, they now repent, v. 6.

Judges 21:2

house of God] That is, at Shiloh, where the tubernacle was, and in it the ark, the visible signe of Gods presence.

Judges 21:3

why is this] With this expostulation (it is like) they joyned a prayer, That God would be pleased to direct them unto some means whereby they might both preserve the tribe in Israel, and also keep their oath.

Judges 21:4

built there an altar] God appointed that in ordinary use there should be but one altar for sacrifice, as there was to be but one tabernacle, and one temple, as types of our onely Saviour Christ, Heb. 13. 10, 11. and therefore the two tribes and half were thought to have sinned, when they built another for this ordinary use, Joshua 22:11. But upon extraordinary and necessary occasions, God allowed his people to build more then this one in number, though they were all one in kinde, both in respect of matter and form, especially when it was done by holy men, and without danger of idolatry: yet with this difference, That the one was to be fixed and permanent, the other to stand onely so long s the necessary occasion continued. And thus we read of divers altars erected; as by Samuel, 1 Sam. 7. 9, 17. 11. 15. and 16. 2, 5. by David, 2 Samuel 24:25. by Elijah, 1 Kin. 18. 32. by Solomon, 1 Kings 8:64.

Judges 21:5

unto the Lord] See Chap. 20. 1.

Judges 21:6

for Benjamin their brother] All the Israelites were brethren, because they were in covenant with God their father, and because they were all descended from Israel, who was their common father, and were all called after his name.

there is] That is, it is in danger to be cut off, if some course be not taken to preserve it. Others read it thus, Should we this day out off a tribe of Israel?

Judges 21:7

that remain] To wit, that so the tribe may be preserved from perishing.

Judges 21:8

Jabesh-gilead] Lying beyond Jordan towards the east, neer the lake of Genesareth, in the tribe of Manasseh.

Judges 21:11

ye shall utterly destroy every male] Numbers 31:17.

lien by man] Hebr. knoweth the lying with man, reserving onely virgins for the Benjamites.

Judges 21:12

young virgins] Hebr. young women virgins; which were marriagable.

brought them] That is, having killed all the other women that had lien by man.

land of Canaan] Beyond Jordan, west ward from Gilead.

Judges 21:13

to speak] Hebr. and spake and called.

rock Rimmon] Chap. 20. 47.

call peaceably] Or, proclaim peace.

Judges 21:14

sufficed them not] Hebr. found they nothing for them. That is, they were not enow to fit the number of the Benjamites to have every man his wife, and so to satisfie their desire. The like phrase is used, Numbers 11:23. Joshua 17. 16.

Judges 21:15

repented them] That is, both because they had in the heat and fury of war slain their brethren with so great a slaughter; and also more especially, because they had killed so many of their virgins, as there were not enow left for the men than remained, and they knew not now how to help it.

the Lord] To wit, by their hands, as executioners of his justice.

Judges 21:16

that remain] That is, the two hundred Benjamites which have no wives provided for them.

Judges 21:17

an inheritance] That is, Benjamin must be reserved to have the twelfth portion in the inheritance of Jacob, in the time of Joshua allotted unto them, seeing it is unlawfull to alienate any part of it to another tribe: And therefore it being so large, and they so few in number to inhabite it, there is the more need that all of them should have wives to multiply their tribe, that they may enjoy their inheritance.

Judges 21:18

have sworn] It was a rash oath, which did not binde unto that which was evil, onely it was a bond to a superstitious conscience; for they must either give them wives, or they must marry strangers, which was expresly contrary to Gods law, unlesse they became proselytes.

that giveth] To wit, at this time, or to these Benjamites that are guilty of this wicked fact; neither did this oath binde them for ever after.

Judges 21:19

of the Lord] And therefore one of those three solemn and religious feasts which he had commanded, some think the feast of tabernacles.

yeerly] Hebr. from yeer to yeer.

on the east side] Or, towards the sun-rising.

of the high-way] Or, on

Judges 21:21

Be favourable unto them] Or, gratifie us in them.

for our sakes] Who have brought this necessity upon them, and so are no lesse faulty then they.

not give] To wit, your daughters unto them voluntarily, but they by force have taken them away; and therefore you are free from the breach of your oath.

Judges 21:24

to his tribe] That is, they went in troops to the tribe of which they were; and coming thither, they parted company, and went severally to their families from which they were descended, and then particularly every man to his own house.

no king] See Chap. 17. 6.

Judges 21:25

In those dayes there was no king in Israel] Chap. 17. 6. and 18. 1. and 19. 1.