5 Then they said, "Who among the tribes of Israel did not join us at Mizpah when we held our assembly in the presence of the Lord ?" At that time they had taken a solemn oath in the Lord 's presence, vowing that anyone who refused to come would be put to death.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 21:5
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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.