John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh , etc.] Having no doubt the same notice the rest of the tribes had; but the thing complained of being done in their tribe, and by some of it, they might be willing to screen the delinquents, or were careless about and indifferent to the case, and secure and easy, as imagining their brethren would never go to war with them about it; or were proud and haughty, and would pay no regard to the summons given them: then said the children of Israel, tell us, how was this wickedness ? proclamation was made in the assembly, that if any person there knew anything of this shocking affair, and horrid iniquity, which was the occasion of their meeting together, that they would rise up and declare what was the cause of it, how it came about, and by whom it was done; or they addressed themselves particularly to the Levite, and his host, and his servant, who might all be upon the spot to bear witness in this case, as it is certain the former of them was, who upon this stood up, and spoke as follows.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The tribe of Benjamin nearly extirpated.
--The Israelites' abhorrence of the crime committed at Gibeah, an their resolution to punish the criminals, were right; but they forme their resolves with too much haste and self-confidence. The eterna ruin of souls will be worse, and more fearful, than these desolation of a tribe _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew וישׁמעו8085 בני1121 בנימן1144 כי3588 עלו5927 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 המצפה4709 ויאמרו559 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 דברו1696 איכה349 נהיתה1961 הרעה7451 הזאת׃2063
