7 How shall we do H6213 for wives H802 for them that remain, H3498 seeing we have sworn H7650 by the LORD H3068 that we will not give H5414 them of our daughters H1323 to wives? H802
Now the men H376 of Israel H3478 had sworn H7650 in Mizpeh, H4709 saying, H559 There shall not any H376 of us give H5414 his daughter H1323 unto Benjamin H1144 to wife. H802
Howbeit we may H3201 not give H5414 them wives H802 of our daughters: H1323 for the children H1121 of Israel H3478 have sworn, H7650 saying, H559 Cursed H779 be he that giveth H5414 a wife H802 to Benjamin. H1144
Then answered H6030 one H376 of the people, H5971 and said, H559 Thy father H1 straitly H7650 charged H7650 the people H5971 with an oath, H7650 saying, H559 Cursed H779 be the man H376 that eateth H398 any food H3899 this day. H3117 And the people H5971 were faint. H5774 Then said H559 Jonathan, H3129 My father H1 hath troubled H5916 the land: H776 see, H7200 I pray you, how mine eyes H5869 have been enlightened, H215 because I tasted H2938 a little H4592 of this honey. H1706
And the people H5971 said H559 unto Saul, H7586 Shall Jonathan H3129 die, H4191 who hath wrought H6213 this great H1419 salvation H3444 in Israel? H3478 God forbid: H2486 as the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 there shall not one hair H8185 of his head H7218 fall H5307 to the ground; H776 for he hath wrought H6213 with God H430 this day. H3117 So the people H5971 rescued H6299 Jonathan, H3129 that he died H4191 not.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Judges 21
Commentary on Judges 21 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 21
The ruins of the tribe of Benjamin we read of in the foregoing chapter; now here we have,
Jdg 21:1-15
We may observe in these verses,
Jdg 21:16-25
We have here the method that was taken to provide the 200 Benjamites that remained with wives. And, though the tribe was reduced to a small number, they were only in care to provide each man with one wife, not with more under pretence of multiplying them the faster. They may not bestow their daughters upon them, but to save their oath, and yet marry some of their daughters to them, they put them into a way of taking them by surprise, and marrying them, which should be ratified by their parents' consent, ex post facto-afterwards. The less consideration is used before the making of a vow, the more, commonly, there is need of afterwards for the keeping of it.
Lastly, In the close of all we have,