Judges 21:8

8 And they say, `Who is [that] one out of the tribes of Israel who hath not come up unto Jehovah to Mizpeh?' and lo, none hath come in unto the camp from Jabesh-Gilead -- unto the assembly.

Judges 21:8 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 21:8

And they said, what one is there of the tribes of Israel that
came not up to Mizpeh to the Lord?
&c.] This is asked not only to bring them to justice, and put them to death, according to their oath, who should be found guilty, ( Judges 21:5 ) but as an expedient to find wives for the surviving Benjaminites; since these, as they came not to Mizpeh, so consequently swore not that they would not give their daughters to Benjaminites; wherefore from among them wives might be given to them, without the violation of an oath:

and, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the
assembly;
this was observed by some upon the question put, which caused an inquiry to be made as after related. This city was in the land of Gilead, from whence it had its name, on the other side Jordan, and is placed by Adrichomius ^F1 in the half tribe of Manasseh; and Jerom ^F2 says it was a village in his time six miles from the city Pella, upon a mountain, as you go to Gerasa.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Theatrum Terrae S. p. 90.
F2 De loc. Heb. fol. 88. K. & fol. 93. L.

Judges 21:8 In-Context

6 And the sons of Israel repent concerning Benjamin their brother, and say, `There hath been to-day cut off one tribe from Israel,

7 what do we do for them -- for those who are left -- for wives, and we -- we have sworn by Jehovah not to give to them of our daughters for wives?'

8 And they say, `Who is [that] one out of the tribes of Israel who hath not come up unto Jehovah to Mizpeh?' and lo, none hath come in unto the camp from Jabesh-Gilead -- unto the assembly.

9 And the people numbered themselves, and lo, there is not there a man of the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead.

10 And the company send there twelve thousand men of the sons of valour, and command them, saying, `Go -- and ye have smitten the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead by the mouth of the sword, even the women and the infants.