Verse 1
Then. These chapters (20, 21), hy Figure of speech Hysterologia, describe events which took place soon after Joshua"s death. See notes on Judges 18:1 with Judges 19:1.
children = sons.
as one man. All this excitement, unanimity, and bloodshed about an injury done to a woman; no sense of the evil of idolatry and sin against God, recorded in Jdg 19.
Verse 2
God. Hebrew. ha-"Elohim = the [true] God. App-14. See note on Judges 18:31.
Verse 3
Now. Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis in this verse. App-6. Mizpeh on the south-west border of Benjamin, not Mizpeh on the east of Jordan (Judges 10:17; Judges 11:11, Judges 11:29).
wickedness. Hebrew. ra"a". App-44.
Verse 4
the Levite. Hebrew = "the man, the Levite".
Verse 5
men = masters or head-men. for the house of God was in Shiloh (Judges 18:31), also the camp of Israel (Judges 21:12).
Verse 16
lefthanded. Hebrew lame, or bound, in his right hand.
hair breadth = a hair. No Ellipsis, omit "breadth".
miss. Hebrew. chata". See App-44.
Verse 18
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
Verse 23
And. Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis. App-6.
before the LORD. At Shiloh (Judges 18:31).
asked counsel. By Phinehas, with Urim and Thummim. Compare Judges 20:28, and see notes on Exodus 28:30. Numbers 26:55.
offered = offered up. See App-43.
Verse 28
Phinehas. The grandson of Aaron, the contemporary of Jonathan the grandson of Moses (Judges 18:30). This is the only mention of the high priest throughout the book.
Aaron. Some codices, with Syriac, add "the priest".
Verse 29
coasts = borders.
Verse 30
no such deed done. "The days of Giheah"became proverbial. Compare Hosea 9:9; Hosea 10:9.
Verse 31
the house of God = Beth-el Here it denotes Beth-el. One of the three cities mentioned.
Verse 33
meadows. Probably = forest.
Verse 36
trusted. Confided or placed hope in. Hebrew. batah. App-69.
Verse 37
drew themselves along = marched forward.
Verse 40
the city = the whole city, or holocaust of the city.
Verse 43
over against = as far as over against.
Verse 47
six hundred. Compare Judges 21:13.
Verse 48
the men = every one.