Judges 20:29

And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(29) Set liers in wait.—This exceedingly simple and primitive stratagem had also been successful against Ai (Joshua 8:4) and against Shechem (Judges 9:43). Here, as in Judges 20:22-23, the narrative follows a loose-order, the general fact being sometimes stated by anticipation, and the details subsequently filled in.

Benson Commentary

Jdg 20:29-30. Israel set liers in wait — Though they were assured of the success, by a particular promise, yet they did not neglect the use of means; as well knowing that the certainty of God’s promises doth not excuse, but rather require, man’s diligent use of all fit means for the accomplishment of them. The children of Israel — That is, a considerable part of them, who were ordered to make the first attack, and then to counterfeit flight, to draw the Benjamites forth from their strong hold. See Jdg 20:32.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

17:7-13 Micah thought it was a sign of God's favour to him and his images, that a Levite should come to his door. Thus those who please themselves with their own delusions, if Providence unexpectedly bring any thing to their hands that further them in their evil way, are apt from thence to think that God is pleased with them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The stratagem described is exactly that by which Joshua took Ai (marginal reference).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Jud 20:29-48. They Destroy All the Benjamites, Except Six Hundred.

29-48. And Israel set liers-in-wait round about Gibeah—A plan was formed of taking that city by stratagem, similar to that employed in the capture of Ai [Jos 8:9].

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Though they were assured of the success by a particular and absolute promise, yet they do not neglect the use of means; as well knowing that the certainty of God’s purposes or promises doth not excuse, but rather require man’s diligent use of all fit means for the accomplishment of them.

Round about Gibeah, i.e. on several sides of it, as may be gathered from the following verses.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah. For though they were assured of success and victory, yet they thought proper to make use of means: and though their numbers were very great, they had recourse to art and stratagem, and set an ambush in divers places, much in like manner as Israel did for the men of Ai; the two cases being pretty much similar; this ambush was set in the night, as Josephus says (s),

(s) Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2.) sect. 11.

Geneva Study Bible

And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

29. From the narrative A, which describes, not the two battles and Jehovah’s direct interference (Jdg 20:23; Jdg 20:28; Jdg 20:35), but the stratagem by which the Israelites captured the city; cf. Joshua 8:4-8 JE. This v. continues Jdg 20:19.

liers in wait] Plural, while Jdg 20:33; Jdg 20:36-38 use the sing. collect., the ambush. The plural may refer to the various parties posted round about the city.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 29. - Set liers in wait. Made wiser by misfortune, they now act cautiously. Judges 20:29

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The Victory on the Third Day's Engagement. - Judges 20:29. The account of this commences with the most important point, so far as their success was concerned: Israel set liers in wait (troops in ambush) round about Gibeah.