Bible Commentaries
Judges 19

Introduction

Overview

Judges 19:1, A Levite goes to Beth-lehem to fetch home his concubine; Judges 19:16, An old man entertains him at Gibeah; Judges 19:22, The Gibeonites abuse his concubine to death; Judges 19:29, He divides her into twelve pieces, and sends them to the twelve tribes.

Verse 1

when there: Judges 17:6, Judges 18:1, Judges 21:25

mount: Judges 17:1, Judges 17:8, Joshua 24:30, Joshua 24:33

a concubine: Heb. a woman or, a wife. Genesis 22:24, Genesis 25:6, 2 Samuel 3:7, 2 Samuel 5:13, 2 Samuel 16:22, 2 Samuel 19:5, 2 Samuel 20:3, 1 Kings 11:3, 2 Chronicles 11:21, Esther 2:14, Song of Solomon 6:8, Song of Solomon 6:9, Daniel 5:3, Malachi 2:15, Beth-lehem-judah, Judges 17:8, Genesis 35:19, Matthew 2:6

Reciprocal: Genesis 16:3 - his Judges 3:27 - mountain Judges 17:7 - General Judges 18:2 - mount Judges 18:13 - mount Ephraim Ruth 1:1 - a famine 1 Samuel 1:1 - mount 1 Samuel 9:4 - mount 1 Kings 4:8 - The son of Hur 2 Chronicles 19:4 - mount

Verse 2

played: Leviticus 21:9, Deuteronomy 22:21, Ezekiel 16:28

four whole months: or, a year and four months, Heb. days, four months

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:6 - concubines Genesis 38:24 - played the harlot Judges 17:7 - General Ruth 1:1 - a famine Jeremiah 3:1 - but thou hast 1 Corinthians 7:11 - or

Verse 3

went: Judges 15:1

speak: Genesis 50:21, Leviticus 19:17, Leviticus 20:10, Hosea 2:14, Matthew 1:19, John 8:4, John 8:5, John 8:11, Galatians 6:1

friendly unto her: Heb. to her heart, Genesis 34:3

to bring: Jeremiah 3:1

his servant: Numbers 22:22

Reciprocal: Judges 19:26 - her lord was Ruth 2:13 - friendly 1 Corinthians 7:11 - or

Verse 4

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:6 - concubines

Verse 5

Comfort: Heb. Srengthen, Judges 19:8, Genesis 18:5, 1 Samuel 14:27-29, 1 Samuel 30:12, 1 Kings 13:7, Psalms 104:15, John 4:34, Acts 9:19

with a morsel: Judges 19:22

Reciprocal: Judges 19:18 - receiveth

Verse 6

let thine heart: Judges 19:9, Judges 19:21, Judges 9:27, Judges 16:25, Ruth 3:7, 1 Samuel 25:36, Esther 1:10, Psalms 104:15, Luke 12:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Revelation 11:10, Revelation 11:13, until afternoon, Heb. till the day declined, Merely that they might avoid the heat of the day, which would have been very inconvenient in travelling.

Reciprocal: Judges 19:22 - they were 2 Samuel 13:28 - heart is merry 2 Kings 6:3 - Be content

Verse 7

Reciprocal: Judges 19:22 - they were 2 Samuel 13:25 - pressed

Verse 8

Reciprocal: Judges 19:5 - Comfort

Verse 9

the day: Luke 24:29

draweth: etc. Heb. is weak

the day groweth to an end: Heb. it is the pitching time of the day, Jeremiah 6:4. That is, it was near the time in which travellers ordinarily pitched their tents, to take up their lodging for the night. In the latter part of the afternoon, eastern travellers begin to look out for a place for this purpose. So Dr. Shaw observes, "Our constant practice was to rise at break of day, set forward with the sun, and travel to the middle of the afternoon; at which time we began to look out for encampments of Arabs; who, to prevent such parties as ours from living at free charges upon them, take care to pitch in woods, valleys, or places the least conspicuous."

to morrow: Proverbs 27:1, James 4:13, James 4:14

home: Heb. to thy tent

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:27 - General Judges 16:25 - their hearts Judges 19:6 - let thine heart Ruth 3:7 - his heart 2 Samuel 13:28 - heart is merry

Verse 10

over against: Heb. to over against

Jebus: Judges 1:8, Joshua 15:8, Joshua 15:63, Joshua 18:28, 2 Samuel 5:6

Reciprocal: Joshua 18:16 - Jebusi Judges 1:21 - General Judges 19:11 - the Jebusites 1 Chronicles 11:4 - Jebus

Verse 11

the Jebusites: Judges 19:10, Judges 1:21, Genesis 10:16, Joshua 15:63, 2 Samuel 5:6

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 24:16 - the Jebusite 1 Chronicles 1:14 - Jebusite

Verse 12

Gibeah: Gibeah, a city of Benjamin, and the birth-place of Saul, was situated near Rama and Gibeon, according to Josephus, thirty furlongs north from Jerusalem; or, according to Jerome, about two leagues. Judges 19:12

Reciprocal: Joshua 18:28 - Gibeath 1 Samuel 10:26 - Gibeah 1 Samuel 13:2 - in Gibeah Isaiah 10:29 - Gibeah Hosea 5:8 - Gibeah

Verse 13

Gibeah: Joshua 18:25, Joshua 18:26, Joshua 18:28, 1 Samuel 10:26, Isaiah 10:29, Hosea 5:8

Reciprocal: Judges 20:31 - the house of God

Verse 14

Reciprocal: Judges 20:31 - the house of God 2 Chronicles 13:2 - Gibeah

Verse 15

no man: There was probably no inn, or house of public entertainment in this place; and therefore they could not have a lodging unless furnished by mere hospitality. But these Benjamites seem to have added to their other vices, avarice and inhospitality, like the inhabitants of Akoura in mount Lebanon, mentioned by Burckhardt. Judges 19:18, Genesis 18:2-8, Genesis 19:2, Genesis 19:3, Matthew 25:35, Matthew 25:43, Hebrews 13:2

Reciprocal: Judges 20:4 - I came Job 31:32 - The stranger

Verse 16

his work: Genesis 3:19, Psalms 104:23, Psalms 128:2, Proverbs 13:11, Proverbs 14:23, Proverbs 24:27, Ecclesiastes 1:13, Ecclesiastes 5:12, Ephesians 4:28, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:12, 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 13:2 - Gibeah Matthew 10:11 - inquire

Verse 17

whither: Genesis 16:8, Genesis 32:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:2 - Nay Jeremiah 14:8 - a wayfaring

Verse 18

I am now: The LXX read, ויע פןם ןיךןם לןץ ודש נןסוץןלבי· "I am going to my own house;" which is probably the true reading, as we find - Judges 19:29 that he really went home; yet he might have gone previously to Shiloh, or to "the house of the Lord," because that was also in mount Ephraim.

the house: Judges 18:31, Judges 20:18, Joshua 18:1, 1 Samuel 1:3, 1 Samuel 1:7

receiveth: Heb. gathereth, Judges 19:5, Psalms 26:9, John 15:6

Reciprocal: Judges 18:2 - mount Judges 19:15 - no man Proverbs 25:17 - Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's

Verse 19

straw and provender: In those countries principally devoted to pasturage, they made little or no hay, but as they raised corn, they took great care of their straw for cattle, which by their mode of threshing was chopped very small. See note on Genesis 24:32.

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:25 - General Exodus 5:7 - straw Acts 10:23 - and lodged Acts 16:15 - come

Verse 20

Peace be: Judges 6:23, Genesis 43:23, Genesis 43:24, 1 Samuel 25:6, 1 Chronicles 12:18, Luke 10:5, Luke 10:6, John 14:27, 1 Corinthians 1:3

let all thy wants: Here was genuine hospitality: "Keep your bread and wine for yourselves, and your straw and provender for your asses; you may need them before you finish your journey: I will supply all your wants for this night; only do not lodge in the street." Romans 12:13, Galatians 6:6, Hebrews 13:2, James 2:15, James 2:16, 1 Peter 4:9, 1 John 3:18

lodge not: Genesis 19:2, Genesis 19:3, Genesis 24:31-33

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 4:8 - she constrained him Job 31:32 - The stranger Isaiah 58:7 - bring Acts 16:15 - come

Verse 21

So he brought: Genesis 24:32, Genesis 43:24

they washed: Genesis 18:4, 1 Samuel 25:41, 2 Samuel 11:8, Luke 7:44, John 13:4, John 13:5, John 13:14, John 13:15, 1 Timothy 5:10

Reciprocal: Judges 19:6 - let thine heart 1 Kings 13:7 - refresh Job 31:32 - The stranger Isaiah 58:7 - bring Acts 16:15 - And she

Verse 22

they were: Judges 19:6, Judges 19:7, Judges 16:25

the men: Judges 20:5, Genesis 19:4, Hosea 9:9, Hosea 10:9

sons of Belial: Deuteronomy 13:13, 1 Samuel 1:16, 1 Samuel 2:12, 1 Samuel 10:27, 1 Samuel 25:25, 2 Samuel 23:6, 2 Samuel 23:7, 2 Corinthians 6:15

Bring forth: Genesis 19:5, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Jude 1:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:7 - wrought Leviticus 18:22 - General Leviticus 20:13 - General Deuteronomy 23:17 - sodomite Judges 19:5 - with a morsel Judges 20:3 - how was Judges 20:13 - children of Belial Ruth 3:7 - his heart 1 Samuel 25:17 - a son of Belial 1 Samuel 30:22 - wicked 2 Samuel 13:28 - heart is merry 2 Samuel 20:1 - a man 1 Kings 14:24 - And there 1 Kings 21:10 - sons of Belial 1 Kings 22:46 - the remnant

Verse 23

the man: Genesis 19:6, Genesis 19:7

do not this folly: Judges 20:6, Genesis 34:7, Joshua 7:15, 2 Samuel 13:12

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 30:23 - my brethren

Verse 24

Behold: The rites of hospitality are regarded as sacred and inviolable in the East, and a man who has admitted a stranger under his roof, is bound to protect him even at the expense of his life. On these high notions only, the influence of which an Asiatic mind alone can appreciate, can the present transaction be either excused or palliated.

them: Genesis 19:8, Romans 3:8

humble ye: Genesis 34:2, *marg. Deuteronomy 21:14

so vile a thing: Heb. the matter of this folly

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 13:13 - Now therefore

Verse 25

knew her: Genesis 4:1

and abused: Jeremiah 5:7, Jeremiah 5:8, Hosea 7:4-7, Hosea 9:9, Hosea 10:9, Ephesians 4:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:2 - defiled her Judges 20:5 - and my concubine

Verse 26

her lord was: Judges 19:3, Judges 19:27, Genesis 18:12, 1 Peter 3:6

Reciprocal: Judges 20:5 - and my concubine

Verse 27

Reciprocal: Judges 19:26 - her lord was

Verse 28

But none: Judges 20:5, 1 Kings 18:29

Reciprocal: Judges 4:14 - Up 1 Samuel 9:26 - Up

Verse 29

divided her: It is probable, that with the pieces he sent to each tribe a circumstantial account of the barbarity of the men of Gibeah; and that they considered each of the pieces as expressing an execration. That a similar custom prevailed in ancient times is evident from 1 Samuel 11:7. It had an inhuman appearance, thus to mangle the corpse of this unhappy woman; but it was intended to excite a keener resentment against so horrible a crime, which called for a punishment proportionally severe. Judges 20:6, Judges 20:7, Romans 10:2

with her bones: Deuteronomy 21:22, Deuteronomy 21:23

Reciprocal: Judges 19:18 - I am now Proverbs 6:34 - General

Verse 30

consider: Judges 20:7, Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 13:10, Proverbs 15:22, Proverbs 20:18, Proverbs 24:6

Reciprocal: Job 34:4 - choose Proverbs 6:34 - General Jeremiah 2:10 - and see