Chapter 21:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Joshua Ruth
Judges 21
The lamentation of Israel over Benjamin, ver. 1-7. They
procure wives for the remaining Benjamites of the virgins of
Jabesh-Gilead, ver. 8-15. And of the daughters of Shiloh, ver. 16-
25.
Verse 1. Had sworn - In the beginning of this war, after the whole tribe
had espoused the quarrel of the men of Gibeah. Saying - They do
not here swear the utter extirpation of the tribe, which fell out
beyond their expectation, but only not to give their daughters to
those men who should survive; justly esteeming them for their
villainy, to be as bad as Heathens, with whom they were
forbidden to marry.
Verse 4. An altar - Not for a monument of the victory, but for sacrifices,
as the next words shew. There might be in that place more altars
than one, when the multitude of sacrifices be required, which was
the case, 1 Kings viii, 64, and probably at this time, when all the
tribes being met, they had many sacrifices to offer, some in
common for all, and some peculiar to every tribe.
Verse 5. Great oath - That is a solemn oath joined with some terrible
execration against the offenders herein. Put to death - Because by
refusing to execute the vengeance due to such malefactors, they
were justly presumed guilty of the crime, and therefore liable to
the same punishment, as was the case of that city that would not
deliver up an Idolater dwelling among them, to justice.
Verse 6. Repented - Not for the war, which was just and necessary, but
for their immoderate severity in the execution of it. That is no
good divinity which swallows up humanity. Even necessary
justice is to be done with compassion.
Verse 15. The Lord, &c. - The Benjamites were the only authors of the
sin, but God was the chief author of the punishment, and the
Israelites were but his executioners.
Verse 17. An inheritance - The inheritance promised by Jacob and
Moses, and given by Joshua to the tribe of Benjamin, doth all of it
belong to those few who remain of that tribe, and cannot be
possessed by any other tribe; and therefore we are obliged to
procure wives for them all, that they may make up this breach,
and be capable of possessing and managing all their land: that this
tribe, and their inheritance may not be confounded with, or
swallowed up by any of the rest.
Verse 19. A feast - Probably it was the feast of tabernacles, which they
celebrated with more than ordinary joy. And that feast was the
only season, at which the Jewish virgins were allowed to dance.
But even this was not mixed dancing. No men danced with these
daughters of Shiloh. Nor did the married women so forget their
gravity, as to join with them. However their dancing thus in
public, made them an easy prey: whence Bishop Hall observes,
"The ambushes of evil spirits carry away many souls from
dancing to a fearful desolation."
Verse 21. Daughters of Shiloh - By whom we may understand not those
only who were born or settled inhabitants there, but all those who
were come thither upon this occasion, and for a time sojourned
there: for although only the males were obliged to go up to the
three solemn feasts; yet the women had liberty to go, and those
who were most devout did usually go. Vineyards - Which were
near to the green where they danced. Catch - Take them away by
force, which they might the better do, because the women danced
by themselves.
Verse 23. And took, &c. - That is, each man his wife. By which we may
see, they had no very favourable opinion of polygamy, because
they did not allow it in this case, when it might seem most
necessary for the reparation of a lost tribe. Repaired - By degrees,
increasing their buildings as their number increased.
Verse 25. Right in his own eyes - What wonder was it then, if all
wickedness overflowed the land? Blessed be God for magistracy!
Chapter 21:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Joshua Ruth
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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