22 Now as they were making their hearts H3820 merry, H3190 behold, the men H582 of the city, H5892 certain H582 sons H1121 of Belial, H1100 beset H5437 the house H1004 round about, H5437 and beat H1849 at the door, H1817 and spake H559 to the master H1167 of the house, H1004 the old H2205 man, H376 saying, H559 Bring forth H3318 the man H376 that came H935 into thine house, H1004 that we may know H3045 him.
But before they lay down, H7901 the men H582 of the city, H5892 even the men H582 of Sodom, H5467 compassed H5437 the house H1004 round, H5437 both old H2205 and young, H5288 all the people H5971 from every quarter: H7097 And they called H7121 unto Lot, H3876 and said H559 unto him, Where are the men H582 which came in H935 to thee this night? H3915 bring them out H3318 unto us, that we may know H3045 them.
And it came to pass, when their hearts H3820 were merry, H2896 that they said, H559 Call H7121 for Samson, H8123 that he may make us sport. H7832 And they called H7121 for Samson H8123 out of the prison H631 house; H1004 and he made them H6440 sport: H6711 and they set H5975 him between the pillars. H5982
Now the sons H1121 of Eli H5941 were sons H1121 of Belial; H1100 they knew H3045 not the LORD. H3068
For G1223 this G5124 cause God G2316 gave G3860 them G846 up G3860 unto G1519 vile G819 affections: G3806 for G1063 even G5037 their G846 women G2338 did change G3337 the natural G5446 use G5540 into G1519 that which is against G3844 nature: G5449 And G5037 likewise G3668 also G2532 the men, G730 leaving G863 the natural G5446 use G5540 of the woman, G2338 burned G1572 in G1722 their G846 lust G3715 one toward another; G1519 G240 men G730 with G1722 men G730 working G2716 that which is unseemly, G808 and G2532 receiving G618 in G1722 themselves G1438 that recompence G489 of their G846 error G4106 which G3739 was meet. G1163
And G1161 what G5101 concord G4857 hath Christ G5547 with G4314 Belial? G955 or G2228 what G5101 part G3310 hath he that believeth G4103 with G3326 an infidel? G571
And they sat down, H3427 and did eat H398 and drink H8354 both H8147 of them together: H3162 for the damsel's H5291 father H1 had said H559 unto the man, H376 Be content, H2974 I pray thee, and tarry all night, H3885 and let thine heart H3820 be merry. H3190 And when the man H376 rose up H6965 to depart, H3212 his father in law H2859 urged H6484 him: therefore he lodged H3885 there again. H7725
But the children H1121 of Belial H1100 said, H559 How shall this man save H3467 us? And they despised H959 him, and brought H935 him no presents. H4503 But he held his peace. H2790
Let H7760 not my lord, H113 I pray thee, regard H3820 this man H376 of Belial, H1100 even Nabal: H5037 for as his name H8034 is, so is he; Nabal H5037 is his name, H8034 and folly H5039 is with him: but I thine handmaid H519 saw H7200 not the young men H5288 of my lord, H113 whom thou didst send. H7971
But the sons of Belial H1100 shall be all of them as thorns H6975 thrust away, H5074 because they cannot be taken H3947 with hands: H3027 But the man H376 that shall touch H5060 them must be fenced H4390 with iron H1270 and the staff H6086 of a spear; H2595 and they shall be utterly H8313 burned H8313 with fire H784 in the same place. H7675
They have deeply H6009 corrupted H7843 themselves, as in the days H3117 of Gibeah: H1390 therefore he will remember H2142 their iniquity, H5771 he will visit H6485 their sins. H2403
O Israel, H3478 thou hast sinned H2398 from the days H3117 of Gibeah: H1390 there they stood: H5975 the battle H4421 in Gibeah H1390 against the children H1121 of iniquity H5932 did not overtake H5381 them.
G2228 Know ye G1492 not G3756 that G3754 the unrighteous G94 shall G2816 not G3756 inherit G2816 the kingdom G932 of God? G2316 Be G4105 not G3361 deceived: G4105 neither G3777 fornicators, G4205 nor G3777 idolaters, G1496 nor G3777 adulterers, G3432 nor G3777 effeminate, G3120 nor G3777 abusers of themselves with mankind, G733
Even as G5613 Sodom G4670 and G2532 Gomorrha, G1116 and G2532 the cities G4172 about G4012 them G846 in like G3664 G5125 manner, G5158 giving themselves over to fornication, G1608 and G2532 going G565 after G3694 strange G2087 flesh, G4561 are set forth for G4295 an example, G1164 suffering G5254 the vengeance G1349 of eternal G166 fire. G4442
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Judges 19
Commentary on Judges 19 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 19
Jud 19:1-15. A Levite Going to Bethlehem to Fetch His Wife.
1. it came to pass in those days—The painfully interesting episode that follows, together with the intestine commotion the report of it produced throughout the country, belongs to the same early period of anarchy and prevailing disorder.
a certain Levite … took to him a concubine—The priests under the Mosaic law enjoyed the privilege of marrying as well as other classes of the people. It was no disreputable connection this Levite had formed; for a nuptial engagement with a concubine wife (though, as wanting in some outward ceremonies, it was reckoned a secondary or inferior relationship) possessed the true essence of marriage; it was not only lawful, but sanctioned by the example of many good men.
2. his concubine … went away from him unto her father's house—The cause of the separation assigned in our version rendered it unlawful for her husband to take her back (De 24:4); and according to the uniform style of sentiment and practice in the East, she would have been put to death, had she gone to her father's family. Other versions concur with Josephus, in representing the reason for the flight from her husband's house to be, that she was disgusted with him, through frequent brawls.
3, 4. And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her—Hebrew, "speak to her heart," in a kindly and affectionate manner, so as to rekindle her affection. Accompanied by a servant, he arrived at the house of his father-in-law, who rejoiced to meet him, in the hope that a complete reconciliation would be brought about between his daughter and her husband. The Levite, yielding to the hospitable importunities of his father-in-law, prolonged his stay for days.
8. tarried—with reluctance.
until afternoon—literally, "the decline of the day." People in the East, who take little or nothing to eat in the morning, do not breakfast till from ten to twelve A.M., and this meal the hospitable relative had purposely protracted to so late a period as to afford an argument for urging a further stay.
9. the day draweth toward evening—Hebrew, "the pitching time of day." Travellers who set out at daybreak usually halt about the middle of the afternoon the first day, to enjoy rest and refreshment. It was, then, too late a time to commence a journey. But duty, perhaps, obliged the Levite to indulge no further delay.
10-12. the man … departed, and came over against Jebus—The note, "which is Jerusalem," must have been inserted by Ezra or some later hand. Jebus being still, though not entirely (Jud 1:8) in the possession of the old inhabitants, the Levite resisted the advice of his attendant to enter it and determined rather to press forward to pass the night in Gibeah, which he knew was occupied by Israelites. The distance from Beth-lehem to Jerusalem is about six miles. The event showed that it would have been better to have followed the advice of his attendant—to have trusted themselves among aliens than among their own countrymen.
13. in Gibeah, or in Ramah—The first of these places was five miles northeast, the other from four to five north of Jerusalem.
15. when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city—The towns of Palestine at this remote period could not, it seems, furnish any establishment in the shape of an inn or public lodging-house. Hence we conclude that the custom, which is still frequently witnessed in the cities of the East, was then not uncommon, for travellers who were late in arriving and who had no introduction to a private family, to spread their bedding in the streets, or wrapping themselves up in their cloaks, pass the night in the open air. In the Arab towns and villages, however, the sheik, or some other person, usually comes out and urgently invites the strangers to his house. This was done also in ancient Palestine (Ge 18:4; 19:2). That the same hospitality was not shown in Gibeah seems to have been owing to the bad character of the people.
Jud 19:16-21. An Old Man Entertains Him at Gibeah.
16. there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim—Perhaps his hospitality was quickened by learning the stranger's occupation, and that he was on his return to his duties at Shiloh.
19, 20. there is no want of any thing—In answering the kindly inquiries of the old man, the Levite deemed it right to state that he was under no necessity of being burdensome on anyone, for he possessed all that was required to relieve his wants. Oriental travellers always carry a stock of provisions with them; and knowing that even the khans or lodging-houses they may find on their way afford nothing beyond rest and shelter, they are careful to lay in a supply of food both for themselves and their beasts. Instead of hay, which is seldom met with, they used chopped straw, which, with a mixture of barley, beans, or the like, forms the provender for cattle. The old man, however, in the warmth of a generous heart, refused to listen to any explanation, and bidding the Levite keep his stocks for any emergency that might occur in the remainder of his journey, invited them to accept of the hospitalities of his house for the night.
20. only lodge not in the street—As this is no rare or singular circumstance in the East, the probability is that the old man's earnest dissuasive from such a procedure arose from his acquaintance with the infamous practices of the place.
Jud 19:22-28. The Gibeahites Abuse His Concubine to Death.
22-24. certain sons of Belial beset the house—The narrative of the horrid outrage that was committed; of the proposal of the old man; the unfeeling, careless, and in many respects, inexplicable conduct of the Levite towards his wife, disclose a state of morality that would have appeared incredible, did it not rest on the testimony of the sacred historian. Both men ought to have protected the women in the house, even though at the expense of their lives, or thrown themselves on God's providence. It should be noted, however, that the guilt of such a foul outrage is not fastened on the general population of Gibeah.
29. divided her … into twelve pieces—The want of a regular government warranted an extraordinary step; and certainly no method could have been imagined more certain of rousing universal horror and indignation than this terrible summons of the Levite.