Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 21:9

"For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there." — Judges 21:9 (ASV)

For the people were numbered. —It is doubtful whether this implies another numbering besides that at Mizpeh (Judges 20:1–17). In the account that had then been compiled, the absence of inhabitants from a single town might at that time escape notice. It would be sufficient now merely to refer to the lists compiled at that time (Judges 20:1–17).