And it came to pass in those days, when [there was] no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah. Ver. 1. _And it came to pass in those days._] Not long after Joshua's death, and before Othniel was judg... [ Continue Reading ]
And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months. Ver. 2. _And his concubine played the whore against._] Which she could not have done had she not been a kind of secondary wife, according to the corrupt... [ Continue Reading ]
And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, [and] to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. Ver. 3. _And her husband arose, and w... [ Continue Reading ]
And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there. Ver. 4. _Retained him._] Or, as others render it, Embraced him. _ So they did eat and drink._] In token of hearty reconciliation. Gen 26:30 Exo 32:6... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way. Ver. 5. _That he rose up to depart._] It is good hearing, saith a reverend... [ Continue Reading ]
And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry. Ver. 6. _And did eat and drink both of them together._] The Levite and his concubine, that their hearts might th... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again. Ver. 7. _His father-in-law urged him._] Compelled him - as Lot did the angels, to lodge in his house; Gen 19:1-3 as the two disciples did our Saviour, to stay longer with them - not by force, but by fr... [ Continue Reading ]
And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them. Ver. 8. _And he arose early in the morning._] See Judges 18:5 . _ And they tarried until afternoon._] Heb.,... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get y... [ Continue Reading ]
But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which [is] Jerusalem; and [there were] with him two asses saddled, his concubine also [was] with him. Ver. 10. _But he rose up and departed._] Such contentment doth sincere affection find in the presen... [ Continue Reading ]
Judges 19:11 [And] when they [were] by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it. Ver. 11. _Come, I pray thee, and let us turn, &c._] This was not the worst counsel that ever the Levite... [ Continue Reading ]
And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that [is] not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah. Ver. 12. _We will pass over to Gibeah._] But where can a man be safe from the devil and his imps? And what place but hell itself can yield a... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah. Ver. 13. _In Gibeah, or in Ramah._] They took up at Gibeah, which is held to be the same with either Gibeon, or Geba, cities given to the Levites out of Benjamin's lot, Jos 21... [ Continue Reading ]
And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them [when they were] by Gibeah, which [belongeth] to Benjamin. Ver. 14. _Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin._] Called elsewhere Gibeah of Saul, 1Sa 11:4 at this time a very Poneropolis, a place where Satan's throne was.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they turned aside thither, to go in [and] to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for [there was] no man that took them into his house to lodging. Ver. 15. _He sat him down in a street of the city._] There were not inns and houses of receipt for strange... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which [was] also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place [were] Benjamites. Ver. 16. _There came an old man from his work out of the field._] Though an "old man," yet a "workman," and at "field... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou? Ver. 17. _Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?_] Necessary questions to be asked of such as shall be entertained by us, lest we take a snake... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto him, We [are] passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence [am] I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I [am now] going to the house of the LORD; and there [is] no man that receiveth me to house. Ver. 18. _, But I am now going to the house of the Lord,_]... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man [which is] with thy servants: [there is] no want of any thing. Ver. 19. _Yet there is both straw and provender, &c._] So that we shall be no way chargeable or tr... [ Continue Reading ]
And the old man said, Peace [be] with thee; howsoever [let] all thy wants [lie] upon me; only lodge not in the street. Ver. 20. _Only lodge not in the street._] He maketh it his suit to the Levite that he may lodge him, &c. This is to pursue hospitality. This good old man was a sojourner there hims... [ Continue Reading ]
_So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink._ Ver. 21. _And they washed their feet._] So they usually did in those hot countries before they sat down to eat; Genesis 18:4 _; _ Gen 19:2 _Luke 7:44_ _2 Samuel 11:8_ 1Ti 5:10 f... [ Continue Reading ]
Judges 19:22 [Now] as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, [and] beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. Ver.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, [nay], I pray you, do not [so] wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. Ver. 23. _Nay, my brethren._] Brethren they were by race and place: but these were unworthy of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, [here is] my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing. Ver. 24. _Behold, here is my daughter._] This was a rash and sinful offer, to prostitute his daughter and... [ Continue Reading ]
But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go. Ver. 25. _But the men would not hearken_] Unruly lust hath no ears. _Fertur equ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord [was], till it was light._ Ver. 26. _Fell down._] Dead. These villains had taken their lustful turns upon her, until they had turned her out of the world. And the like was done at Winchelsea... [ Continue Reading ]
And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down [at] the door of the house, and her hands [were] upon the threshold. Ver. 27. _The woman his concubine was fallen down._] As Judges 19:26. Like as... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her [up] upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place. Ver. 28. _And he said unto her, Up._] Little thinking she had been dead, but either asleep, or sick from ill-humour.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, [together] with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. Ver. 29. _Laid hold on his concubine, and divided her._] _Hoc Levitae factum singulare est, et illegitimu... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak [your minds]. Ver. 30. _There was no such deed done._] So that it grew to a proverb, "They h... [ Continue Reading ]