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The adultery of the Levite's concubine, ver. 1, 2.
The reconciliation to her, and entertainment at her father's,
ver. 3 - 9.
His journey homeward as far as Gibeah, ver. 10 - 15.
An Ephraimite takes him in, ver. 16 - 21.
The men of Gibeah assault the house, ver. 22 - 24.
They force his concubine to death, ver. 25 - 28.
He sends notice of it to all the tribes of Israel, ver. 29, 30
1: A. concubine - Heb. a wife, a concubine, that is, such a
concubine as was also his wife: called a concubine, only because she was
not endowed. Perhaps he had nothing to endow her with, being himself only
a sojourner.
2: Against him - That is, against her faith given to him. Went
away - Either for fear of punishment; or, because her heart was alienated
from him; wherein not only she sinned, but her father by connivance at her
sin, and neglect of just endeavours for her reconciliation to her husband.
3: Friendly - To offer her pardon and reconciliation.
12: A stranger - That is, of a strange nation: which the
Canaanites possess; for though the city Jerusalem had been
taken by Caleb, (Jdg 1:8), yet the strong fort of
Zion was still in their hands, whence it is likely they did much
molest, and afterwards by God's permission, drive out the Israelites
who dwelt there.
15: To lodge - Though they were soft and effeminate in other
respects, yet they were hard - hearted to strangers, and at that time
there were no public - houses in that country.
16: Ephraim - Whence also the Levite was, which enclined him to
shew the more kindness to his country - man. Benjamites - This was indeed
one of the cities belonging to the priests; but the cities which were given
to the priests, and whereof they were owners, were not inhabited by the
priests or Levites only, especially at this time when they were but few
in number, but by many other persons of different professions.
18: House of the Lord - Which was in Shiloh. Thither he went,
either because he lived there, for that was in the tribe of Ephraim; or,
rather, because he would there offer prayers and praises, and sacrifices to
God, for his mercy in reconciling him and his wife.
20: Let all, &c. - It matters not whether thou wantest nothing or
everything, I will take care to supply all thy wants.
21: Washed - As they used to do to travellers in those hot countries.
22: Merry - That is, refreshing themselves with the provisions
set before them. Sons of belial - Children of the devil, wicked and
licentious men.
23: Into my house - And therefore I am obliged to protect him by the
laws of hospitality.
26: Fell down - Namely, dead; killed partly with grief of heart, and
partly with excessive abuse. Thus the sin she formerly chose, ver.(2),
is now her destruction; and though her husband pardoned her, God would
punish her, at least as to this life.
29: Sent - By several messengers, with a relation of the fact.
30: Speak - Let us meet together, and seriously consider, and every
one freely speak what is to be done in this case.
