They commanded. — Rather, they gave notice. This is the keri or marginal reading of the Hebrew; the kethib, or written text, has the verb in the singular, in which case we must take it impersonally, “It was bidden,” and suppose that some leading personage — probably Phinehas, the impress of whose character and reminiscences is observable throughout — is the speaker.
Related Commentaries of Judges 21:20
Judges 21:20
20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;