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Judges 21:25

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 21:25 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21:25 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
22And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come to complain unto us, that we will say unto them, Grant them graciously unto us, because we took not for each man [of them] his wife in battle, neither did ye give them unto them, else would ye now be guilty.
23And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they carried off: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and built the cities, and dwelt in them.
24And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.
25In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“In those days there was no king in Israel, etc.] No supreme magistrate, Joshua being dead, and as yet no judge in Israel had risen up; for all related in the five last chapters of this book were done between the death of Joshua and the time of the judges: every man did that which was right in his own eyes; there being none to restrain him from it, or punish him for it; and this accounts for the many evil things related, as the idolatry of Micah and the Danites, the base usage of the Levite’s concubine, the extreme rigour and severity with which the Israelites treated their brethren the Benjaminites, the slaughter of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead, and the rape of the daughters of Shiloh.…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The repetition of this characteristic phrase (compare Judges 17:6; Judges 18:1; Judges 19:1) is probably intended to impress upon us the idea that these disorders arose from the want of a sufficient authority to suppress them. The preservation of such a story, of which the Israelites must have been ashamed, is a striking evidence of the divine superintendence and direction as regards the Holy Scriptures. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Judges 21". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/judges-21.html. 1870. StudyLight.org…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Right in his own eyes - What wonder was it then, if all wickedness overflowed the land? Blessed be God for magistracy! Next: Ruth Chapter 1”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“no: Jdg 17:6, Jdg 18:1, Jdg 19:1 right: Jdg 18:7; Deu 12:8; Psa 12:4; Pro 3:5, Pro 14:12; Ecc 11:9; Mic 2:1, Mic 2:2 Next: Ruth Introduction”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification