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.
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
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
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
Reciprocal . Genesis 25 . 6 . concubines
Comfort . Heb. Srengthen , Judges 19 . 8 , Genesis 18 . 5 , 1 Samuel 14 . 27-29 , 1 Samuel 30 . 12 , 1 Kings 13 . 7 , Psalm 104 . 15 , John 4 . 34 , Acts 9 . 19
with a morsel . Judges 19 . 22
Reciprocal . Judges 19 . 18 . receiveth
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 , Psalm 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
Reciprocal . Judges 19 . 22 . they were 2 Samuel 13 . 25 . pressed
Reciprocal . Judges 19 . 5 . Comfort
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
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
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
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
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
Reciprocal . Judges 20 . 31 . the house of God 2 Chronicles 13 . 2 . Gibeah
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
his work . Genesis 3 . 19 , Psalm 104 . 23 , Psalm 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
whither . Genesis 16 . 8 , Genesis 32 . 17
Reciprocal . Genesis 19 . 2 . Nay Jeremiah 14 . 8 . a wayfaring
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 , Psalm 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
her lord was . Judges 19 . 3 , Judges 19 . 27 , Genesis 18 . 12 , 1 Peter 3 . 6
Reciprocal . Judges 20 . 5 . and my concubine
Reciprocal . Judges 19 . 26 . her lord was
But none . Judges 20 . 5 , 1 Kings 18 . 29
Reciprocal . Judges 4 . 14 . Up 1 Samuel 9 . 26 . Up
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
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