And they said, what one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the Lord?.... This is asked not only to bring them to justice, and put them to death, according to their oath, who should be found guilty, Jud 21:5 but as an expedient to find wives for the surviving Benjaminites; since these, as they came not to Mizpeh, so consequently swore not that they would not give their daughters to Benjaminites; wherefore from among them wives might be given to them, without the violation of an oath:and, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly; this was observed by some upon the question put, which caused an inquiry to be made as after related.
This city was in the land of Gilead, from whence it had its name, on the other side Jordan, and is placed by Adrichomius in the half tribe of Manasseh; and Jerom says it was a village in his time six miles from the city Pella, upon a mountain, as you go to Gerasa.
Theatrum Terrae S. p. 90. De loc. Heb. fol. 88. K. & fol. 93.