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Judges 21:1-9

JUDGES—NOTE ON Judges 21:1 The other tribes had sworn at Mizpah that no one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin (see Judges 20:1). Now, regretting that their oath could result in the loss of an entire tribe, they recalled that they had taken a second oath (great oath; Judges 21:5) that any city that didn’t join in the fight against Benjamin should surely be put to death (v. Judges 21:5). That oath now provided the justification for raiding Jabesh-gilead to provide wives for the Benjaminites.

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See also Judges 21:1-9 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER XXI _The Israelites mourn because of the desolation of Benjamin, and_ _consult the Lord_, 1-4. _They inquire who of Israel had not come to this war, as they had_ _vowed that those who woul...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 21 THE REPENTANCE ABOUT BENJAMIN _ 1. Sorrow of the people and Jabesh-Gilead smitten (Judges 21:1)_ 2. The restoration of Benjamin (Judges 21:16) A tribe of the nation was almost entirely ex...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JUDES 21. BENJAMIN SAVED FROM EXTINCTION. Two versions of this story have been editorially combined. The second is evidently the older. It was stated that the children of Israel came together as one m...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    HAD SWORN: i.e. before the fighting of Judges 20....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _had sworn in Mizpah_ Probably, like Jephthah's vow (Judges 11:30 _n._), a religious oath made at the sanctuary (Judges 20:1). This solemn oath, which could neither be broken nor withdrawn, is an esse...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _THE PEOPLE BEWAIL THE DESOLATION OF BENJAMIN: THEY SEND TO JABESH-GILEAD, AND DESTROY THE INHABITANTS, EXCEPT FOUR HUNDRED VIRGINS, WHO ARE MARRIED TO SO MANY OF THE REMAINING BENJAMITES; THE REST OF...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _Mourning for Benjamin Judges 21:1-7_ Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife. 2 And the people came to the house of God, a...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _NOW THE MEN OF ISRAEL HAD SWORN IN MIZPEH, SAYING, THERE SHALL NOT ANY OF US GIVE HIS DAUGHTER UNTO BENJAMIN TO WIFE._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MIGRATIONS OF THE DANITES, AND THE FEUD BETWEEN BENJAMIN AND THE OTHER TRIBES (JUDGES 17-21) This concluding section is really an appendix. Instead of describing a further deliverance, it recounts...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    HAD SWORN] see on Judges 17:2. All the women and children in Benjamin have been massacred: cp. Judges 21:16....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LIFE WITHOUT LAW JUDGES _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 21 V1 *Israel’s men had made this serious promise to the *Lord at Mizpah. ‘We will not allow our daughters to marry a man from Benjamin’s *tribe.’ V...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    HAD SWORN. — The circumstance has not been mentioned in the account of the proceedings at Mizpeh. It is clear from the sequel (Judges 21:18) that the oath was not only an oath but “a vow under a curse...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נִשְׁבַּ֥ע בַּ † מִּצְפָּ֖ה...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Judges 20:1; Judges 21:1 FROM JUSTICE TO WILD REVENGE Judges 19:1; Judges 20:1;...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Uninstructed zeal, even in the cause of righteousness, often goes beyond its proper limits. The terrible carnage continued until not above six hundred men of the tribe of Benjamin were left. Another o...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    The other 11 tribes had sworn, perhaps rashly, they would not give their daughters to the men of Benjamin. With the war now ended, they went up to the house of God and wept. They were concerned that a...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Now the men of Israel had (a) sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife. (a) This was a rash oath, and not from judgment: for they later broke it, sho...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Sworn, (juraverunt.) The mention of Maspha, seems to determine that this oath was taken before the battle; though it would otherwise appear, that the Israelites engaged themselves to extirpate the tri...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS This Chapter, which concludes the book of the Judges, gives the general conclusion also, of sin and its punishment in the sorrow and anguish of spirit it induceth. We have in it, the account...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    My object being no more than a sketch, as most of you know, I desire to say but a few words on such of the Chapter s as bear a similar character to that which has been already pointed out in the early...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 17 THROUGH 21. The Chapter s that follow (17-21) are not comprised in the historical order of this book. They lift the veil to disclose some incidents of the...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    NOW THE MEN OF ISRAEL HAD SWORN IN MIZPEH,.... Where they were there convened, before the war began; after they had heard the account the Levite gave of the affair, which brought them thither; and aft...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife. Ver. 1. _Now the men of Israel had sworn._] Rashly and uncharitably, out of rage...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _The men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh_ When they first assembled there in the beginning of this war, after the whole tribe had espoused the quarrel of the men of Gibeah. _Saying_ They do not here swe...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The people bewaile the desolation of Beniamin. 8 By the destruction of Iabesh Gilead they prouide them foure hundred wiues. 16 They aduise them to surprise the virgines that daunced at Shiloh. 1...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Expedition Against Jabesh-Gilead...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, at the time of the great assembly, Judges 20:1, when the embittered feeling against Benjamin ran high, SAYING, THERE SHALL NOT ANY OF US GIVE HIS DAUGHTER UN...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    TWO FOOLISH OATHS AND FOOLISH ACTIONS (vv. 1-14) God had not told Israel to totally destroy Benjamin, including women and children, but Israel had done this except for the 600 men hiding in the Rock...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    JUDGES CHAPTER 21 The people bewail the desolation of Benjamin, JUDGES 21:1. The inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead, for not coming up to this battle, are all destroyed, excepting four hundred damsels, whom...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Judges 21:1 men H376 Israel H3478 oath H7650 (H8738) Mizpah H4709 saying H559 (H8800) None H376 give...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    CHAPTER 21. PRESERVATION OF THE REMNANT OF BENJAMIN. Judges 21:1 ‘ Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, ‘There shall not any of us give his daughter to Benjamin to wife.' This interes...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Mourning for the lost tribe of Benjamin. CHARACTERS: God. CONCLUSION: There may be overdoing in well doing. Great care must be taken in the government of our zeal, for even necessary justic...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Judges 21:4. _Built there an altar,_ in Mizpeh. This altar had long existed. Exodus 38:1. Altars were erected in many places: Samuel, David, and Elijah officiated at those altars. Yea, more; the Lord'...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The men of Israel had sworn._ AN UNREASONABLE OATH 1. It was an oath that flowed from rash rage rather than from real zeal. Men must swear in judgment (Jeremiah 4:2), not when transported with pass...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    A GREAT CALAMITY PREVENTED (Judges 21:1.) _HOMILETICS_ 1. _Zeal is always right in denouncing sin_. It would have showed a lamentable lack of the reverence due to the God of Israel, if such a hideo...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now, these men [in chapter twenty-one, had made an oath] they had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin for a wife (Judges 21:1). These Benjamites do these...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 14:24; 1 Samuel 14:28; 1 Samuel 14:29; Acts 23:12; Deu

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    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...

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