Bible Commentaries

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 Jdg 19.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

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.

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".

coasts = borders.

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

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

meadows. Probably = forest.

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

drew themselves along = marched forward.

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

over against = as far as over against.

six hundred. Compare Judges 21:13.

the men = every one.