John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And the men of Gibeah rose against me , etc.] Not all of them, but some that dwelt in that city; he forbears giving them the character they justly deserved, sons of Belial. These came in a tumultuous and violent manner, and beset the house round about upon me by night ; that he might not make his escape, resolving if possible to get him into their hands, and do with him according to their will: and thought to have slain me ; their first intention was to commit the unnatural sin on him, and, if he resisted, to slay him; but this he modestly conceals, as being a sin not to be named in an assembly of saints; and besides he might say this, because he himself chose rather to be slain than to submit to their lust, which he knew must be the case upon his refusal and resistance; and even if he had yielded, being overpowered, this would have been the consequence, that he should have been abused even unto death, as his wife was: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead ; or “afflicted”, or “humbled” her; which is a modest expression for carnal knowledge of her, and which they had to such excess that she died through it.
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 ויקמו6965 עלי5921 בעלי1167 הגבעה1390 ויסבו5437 עלי5921 את853 הבית1004 לילה3915 אותי853 דמו1819 להרג2026 ואת853 פילגשׁי6370 ענו6031 ותמת׃4191
