It is interesting that here, rather than in Judges 21:12 where Shiloh is first mentioned, there is a detailed description of Shiloh’s location. It could simply be that the elders here are thinking out loud among themselves, before addressing the Benjamites (Judges 21:20). It is as though it suddenly occurs to the elders (Behold!
) that Shiloh is an ideal place for an ambush, not only because of the annual festival there but also because of its location, in an area where there are vineyards. This may be confirmed by the instruction in Judges 21:20, Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards.
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19 So they said, “Behold, there is the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.”