And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, [that] ye should be guilty.
Ver. 22. Come unto us to complain.] As they had just cause to do for such a plagium. Children are a chief part of their parents' goods; and Jacob took it very heavily to be robbed of his Dinah. The civil law punisheth it with death.
Be favourable unto them for our sakes.] Or, Gratify us in them: Non illis sed nobis datae reputantur.
For ye did not give unto them at this time.] And so, sacramento soluti estis, ye are free from the breach of your oath. True: but neither were they free from the sin of man stealing, Deu 24:7 nor their counsellors from crimen stellionatus.