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Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

Unto the Lord in Mizpeh. — Where was, they say, an oratory or synagogue; 1 Maccabees 3:46 and that here was the first beginning of synagogues, which were as chapels of ease to the tabernacle or temple. That meet at Mizpeh, 1 Samuel 7:5 is very famous. Hither they resorted, as being in the heart of the country, when any great business concerning the public was to be transacted. See 1 Samuel 10:17 Jeremiah 40:7-8 .

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And the chief of all the people, [even] of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

And the chief of all the people. — Heb., The corners of all the people: for the chieftains and rulers bear up the people, and hold them together, as the corner stones do the whole building, which else would soon shatter and fall to ruin. Ut anguli in domo, sunt primates in populo. - Vat. See the like in Zephaniah 3:6 . Diodat rendereth it, the cantons.

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(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell [us], how was this wickedness?

Then said the children of Israel, Tell us. — This they said to the Levite, to his servant, and to the old man his host. Janius will have it spoken to the Benjamites, who should have answered by their agents at this meeting: who because they appeared not, the Levite remonstrateth the whole business briefly and plainly, without preface or passions. ανευ προοιμιων και παθων .

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And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that [belongeth] to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

The husband of the woman. — She was not then his harlot, but a secondary wife, as is before noted.

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And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, [and] thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.

And the men of Gibeah. — Some certain varlets there; not all the city, as once at Sodom. Genesis 19:4-5 But because these were not punished, but countenanced, all became guilty.

And thought to have slain me. — As they have done my concubine: i.e., Abuti me praepostera libidine usque ad mortem. - Val. and perhaps they threatened to kill him, if he would not come forth, and be abused by them.

And my concubine have they forced. — The monks in Bohemia ravished a sister of that noble warrior, Zisca; in revenge whereof he took arms, overthrew three hundred monasteries, and did many more great exploits against the Papists there, and in other parts of Germany.

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And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

For they have committed lewdness. — Wickedness with a witness: such as may not go unpunished.

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Behold, ye [are] all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.

Behold, ye are all children of Israel. — This injury reacheth not to me alone, but to the whole community.

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And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any [of us] go to his tent, neither will we any [of us] turn into his house.

And all the people arose as one man, saying. — For the punishment of foul offences serio et sedulo ineumbendnm est, men must do their utmost; and not as Popish councils, which make a show only of reformation. Luther truly and trimly compared them to a company of foxes, which sweeping a foul room with their tails, raise a great dust, but remove none.

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