United Commentaries

Judg.17.1-21.25

These two epilogues (chs 17–18 and chs 19–21) attest that inspired but unstructured leadership cannot endure. During the relentless march toward social disintegration and civil war, the refrain, “In those days Israel had no king,” occurs four times, and “all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” is added twice (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). The era of inspired leadership spiraled downward and culminated in chaos. Something was clearly missing.

Judg.19.1-21.25

This second epilogue (see study note on 17:1–21:25) shifts the focus from individuals to whole tribes. Beginning with the outrage in the Benjamite town of Gibeah (ch 19), which led to civil war (ch 20) and the decimation of Benjamin, and moving on to the attempt to rescue the tribe from oblivion (ch 21), the book concludes with the now-familiar refrain, in those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. This was perhaps the low point in Israel’s own remembered history; this is “what they did in Gibeah” that Hosea, 400 years later, would liken to the depths to which Ephraim had sunk (Hos 9:9; 10:9).

The way had been cleared for a transition from charismatic leadership to what might be called “covenant-charismatic kingship,” i.e., kingship that combined living under the Lord’s covenant (Deut 17:14-20) with the anointing of the Spirit for the task of ruling, as with Saul and David.

Judg.21.1

For the second time in Judges, an unwise vow put its makers in a difficult position (see study note on 11:31).

Judg.21.3

The concept of a twelve-tribe league was deeply rooted in Israel, having survived the separation of Levi from the secular tribes, the virtual disappearance of Simeon and Asher, and the division of Joseph into two (Manasseh and Ephraim). The loss of one tribe would have suggested that God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was coming unglued.

Judg.21.8-9

Jabesh-gilead was an important town east of the Jordan whose failure to participate in the war against Benjamin made a grievous break in solidarity (see 21:5).

Judg.21.11

Completely destroy: See Lev 27:28-29.

Judg.21.15-17

The people felt sorry for Benjamin: Israel was concerned about the brokenness of the nation.

The gap in Israel was an act of the Lord, because the war against Benjamin had been a response to the Lord’s covenant.

Judg.21.19

The annual grape harvest festival . . . in Shiloh may originally have been a Canaanite feast.

Judg.21.23

Their own land was the land allotted to the tribe of Benjamin by the Lord’s covenant (2:6).

Judg.21.24

The people of Israel pulled through despite the lack of inspired leadership (chs 17–18) and the failure of the tribal league (chs 19–21). Tribes and families were intact; Israel and all its tribes would survive.

Judg.21.25

The conclusion of chs 17–21 gives the reason for the social disorder of the time. Following the period of the judges, God would make a new covenant with Israel involving King David (2 Sam 7) and the promise of messianic rule. The fulfillment of that promise would go far beyond anything that could be imagined in the time when Israel had no king.