Judges 19:29

“And when he was come into his house, etc.] Having taken the dead body of his wife from off the ass, and brought it in thither, and laid it in a proper place and order: he took a knife; a carving knife, such as food is cut with, as the word signifies; the Targum is, a sword: and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces; cut off her limbs at the joints of her bones, and made twelve pieces of them, according to the number of the tribes of Israel: and sent her into all the coasts of Israel; that is, to every tribe, as Josephus says f405: there was now no supreme magistrate to apply unto for justice, nor the court of seventy elders, and therefore he…”

“divided her . . . into twelve pieces--The want of a regular government warranted an extraordinary step; and certainly no method could have been imagined more certain of rousing universal horror and indignation than this terrible summons of the Levite. Next: Judges Chapter 20”

“A knife - Rather, “the” “knife”. The single household implement used, not like our knives at our meals, but for slaughtering and cutting up the animals into joints for eating Genesis 22:6, Genesis 22:10; Proverbs 30:14. Together with her bones ... - Rather, “into her bones”, or “bone by bone, into twelve pieces”. The “pieces” are synonymous with the “bones” (compare Ezekiel 24:4-5). There is something truly terrible in the stern ferocity of grief and indignation which dictated this desperate effort to arouse his countrymen to avenge his wrong. Compare 1 Samuel 11:7. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes,…”

“Sent - By several messengers, with a relation of the fact. Judges 19:30”

“divided her: It is probable, that with the pieces he sent to each tribe a circumstantial account of the barbarity of the men of Gibeah; and that they considered each of the pieces as expressing an execration. That a similar custom prevailed in ancient times is evident from Sa1 11:7. It had an inhuman appearance, thus to mangle the corpse of this unhappy woman; but it was intended to excite a keener resentment against so horrible a crime, which called for a punishment proportionally severe. Jdg 20:6, Jdg 20:7; Rom 10:2 with her bones: Deu 21:22, Deu 21:23 Judges 19:30”