Judges 20:5

5 And the men of Gabaa rose up against me, and compassed the house by night against me; they wished to slay me, and they have humbled my concubine, and she is dead.

Judges 20:5 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 20:5

And the men of Gibeah rose against me
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" ^F4 her; which is a modest expression for carnal knowledge of her, and which they had to such excess that she died through it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (wne) "afflixerunt", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus.

Judges 20:5 In-Context

3 And the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Massepha: and the children of Israel came and said, Tell us, where did this wickedness take place?

4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I and my concubine went to Gabaa of Benjamin to lodge.

5 And the men of Gabaa rose up against me, and compassed the house by night against me; they wished to slay me, and they have humbled my concubine, and she is dead.

6 And I laid hold of my concubine, and divided her in pieces, and sent into every coast of the inheritance of the children of Israel; for they have wrought lewdness and abomination in Israel.

7 Behold, all ye children of Israel; and consider and take counsel here among yourselves.