8 And they said , "What one is there of the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the Lord at Mizpah ?" And behold , no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead e to the assembly . 9 For when the people were numbered , behold , not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead e was there . 10 And the congregation sent 12,000 e e of the valiant warriors there , and commanded them, saying , "Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead e with the edge of the sword , with the women and the little ones .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 21:8-10
Chapter Contents
The Israelites lament for the Benjamites.
Israel lamented for the Benjamites, and were perplexed by the oath they had taken, not to give their daughters to them in marriage. Men are more zealous to support their own authority than that of God. They would have acted better if they had repented of their rash oaths, brought sin-offerings, and sought forgiveness in the appointed way, rather than attempt to avoid the guilt of perjury by actions quite as wrong. That men can advise others to acts of treachery or violence, out of a sense of duty, forms a strong proof of the blindness of the human mind when left to itself, and of the fatal effects of a conscience under ignorance and error.