Bible Commentaries
Judges 20

Verse 1

Then. These chapters (20, 21), hy Figure of speech Hysterologia , describe events which took place soon after Joshua's death. See notes on Judges 18:1 with Judges 19:1 .

children = sons.

as one man. All this excitement, unanimity, and bloodshed about an injury done to a woman; no sense of the evil of idolatry and sin against God, recorded in Judges 19:0 .

Verse 2

God. Hebrew. ha - 'Elohim = the [true] God. App-14 . See note on Judges 18:31 .

Verse 3

Now. Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis in this verse. App-6 . Mizpeh on the south-west border of Benjamin, not Mizpeh on the east of Jordan (Judges 10:17 ; Judges 11:11 , Judges 11:29 ).

wickedness. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

Verse 4

the Levite. Hebrew = "the man, the Levite".

Verse 5

men = masters or head-men. for the house of God was in Shiloh (Judges 18:31 ), also the camp of Israel (Judges 21:12 ).

Verse 16

lefthanded. Hebrew lame, or bound, in his right hand.

hair breadth = a hair. No Ellipsis, omit "breadth".

miss. Hebrew. chata'. See App-44 .

Verse 18

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 23

And. Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis. App-6 .

before the LORD. At Shiloh (Judges 18:31 ).

asked counsel. By Phinehas, with Urim and Thummim. Compare Judges 20:28 , and see notes on Exodus 28:30 . Numbers 26:55 .

offered = offered up. See App-43 .

Verse 28

Phinehas. The grandson of Aaron, the contemporary of Jonathan the grandson of Moses (Judges 18:30 ). This is the only mention of the high priest throughout the book.

Aaron. Some codices, with Syriac, add "the priest".

Verse 29

coasts = borders.

Verse 30

no such deed done. "The days of Giheah"became proverbial. Compare Hosea 9:9 ; Hosea 10:9 .

Verse 31

the house of God = Beth-el Here it denotes Beth-el. One of the three cities mentioned.

Verse 33

meadows. Probably = forest.

Verse 36

trusted. Confided or placed hope in. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .

Verse 37

drew themselves along = marched forward.

Verse 40

the city = the whole city, or holocaust of the city.

Verse 43

over against = as far as over against.

Verse 47

six hundred. Compare Judges 21:13 .

Verse 48

the men = every one.