Judges 21

Chapter 21

Israel Provides Wives for Benjamin

1 The Israelites had vowed at Mizpah, “We will never give our daughters in marriage to a man from the tribe of Benjamin.”2 Now the people went to Bethel and sat in the presence of God until evening, weeping loudly and bitterly.

3 “O LORD, God of Israel,” they cried out, “why has this happened in Israel? Now one of our tribes is missing from Israel!”
4 Early the next morning the people built an altar and presented their burnt offerings and peace offerings on it.

5 Then they said, “Who among the tribes of Israel did not join us at Mizpah when we held our assembly in the presence of the LORD?” At that time they had taken a solemn oath in the LORD’s presence, vowing that anyone who refused to come would be put to death.
6 The Israelites felt sorry for their brother Benjamin and said, “Today one of the tribes of Israel has been cut off.

7 How can we find wives for the few who remain, since we have sworn by the LORD not to give them our daughters in marriage?”
8 So they asked, “Who among the tribes of Israel did not join us at Mizpah when we assembled in the presence of the LORD?” And they discovered that no one from Jabesh-gilead had attended the assembly.

9 For after they counted all the people, no one from Jabesh-gilead was present.
10 So the assembly sent 12,000 of their best warriors to Jabesh-gilead with orders to kill everyone there, including women and children.11 “This is what you are to do,” they said. “Completely destroyt all the males and every woman who is not a virgin.”

12 Among the residents of Jabesh-gilead they found 400 young virgins who had never slept with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.
13 The Israelite assembly sent a peace delegation to the remaining people of Benjamin who were living at the rock of Rimmon.

14 Then the men of Benjamin returned to their homes, and the 400 women of Jabesh-gilead who had been spared were given to them as wives. But there were not enough women for all of them.
15 The people felt sorry for Benjamin because the LORD had made this gap among the tribes of Israel.16 So the elders of the assembly asked, “How can we find wives for the few who remain, since the women of the tribe of Benjamin are dead?17 There must be heirs for the survivors so that an entire tribe of Israel is not wiped out.

18 But we cannot give them our own daughters in marriage because we have sworn with a solemn oath that anyone who does this will fall under God’s curse.”
19 Then they thought of the annual festival of the LORD held in Shiloh, south of Lebonah and north of Bethel, along the east side of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem.20 They told the men of Benjamin who still needed wives, “Go and hide in the vineyards.21 When you see the young women of Shiloh come out for their dances, rush out from the vineyards, and each of you can take one of them home to the land of Benjamin to be your wife!

22 And when their fathers and brothers come to us in protest, we will tell them, ‘Please be sympathetic. Let them have your daughters, for we didn’t find wives for all of them when we destroyed Jabesh-gilead. And you are not guilty of breaking the vow since you did not actually give your daughters to them in marriage.’”

23 So the men of Benjamin did as they were told. Each man caught one of the women as she danced in the celebration and carried her off to be his wife. They returned to their own land, and they rebuilt their towns and lived in them.

24 Then the people of Israel departed by tribes and families, and they returned to their own homes.

25 In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

Judges 21

600 Brides for 600 Brothers

1 The Israelites had taken an oath in Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will allow his daughter to marry a Benjaminite.”2 So the people came to Bethels and sat there before God until evening, weeping loudly and uncontrollably.t

3 They said, “Why, O Lord God of Israel, has this happened in Israel?” An entiret tribe has disappeared from Israel today!”
4 The next morning the people got up early and built an altar there. They offered up burnt sacrifices and token of peace.t5 The Israelites asked, “Who from all the Israelite tribes has not assembled before the Lord?” They had made a solemn oath that whoever did not assemble before the Lord at Mizpah must certainly be executed.t6 The Israelites regretted what had happened tot their brother Benjamin. They said, “Today we cut off an entiret tribe from Israel!7 How can we find wives for those who are left?t After all, we took an oath in the Lord’s name not to give them our daughters as wives.”8 So they asked, “Who from all the Israelite tribes did not assemble before the Lord at Mizpah?” Now it just so happened no one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the gathering.t9 When they took roll call,t they noticedt none of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead were there.10 So the assembly sent 12,000 capable warriorst against Jabesh Gilead.t They commanded them, “Go and kill with your swordst the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead, including the women and little children.11 Do this:t exterminate every male, as well as every woman who has had sexual relations with a male.t But spare the lives of any virgins.” So they did as instructed.s

12 They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundred young girls who were virgins – they had never had sexual relations with a male.t They brought them back to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.
13 The entire assembly sent messengers to the Benjaminites at the cliff of Rimmon and assured them they would not be harmed.t

14 The Benjaminites returned at that time, and the Israelitest gave to them the women they had spared from Jabesh Gilead. But there were not enough to go around.t
15 The people regretted what had happened tot Benjamin because the Lord had weakenedt the Israelite tribes.16 The leaderst of the assembly said, “How can we find wives for those who are left?t After all, the Benjaminite women have been wiped out.17 Thet remnant of Benjamin must be preserved. An entire Israelite tribe should not be wiped out.t18 But we can’t allow our daughters to marry them,t for the Israelites took an oath, saying, ‘Whoever gives a woman to a Benjaminite will be destroyed!’t19 However, there is an annual festival to the Lord in Shiloh, which is north of Bethels (east of the main road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem) and south of Lebonah.”20 So they commanded the Benjaminites, “Go hide in the vineyards,21 and keep your eyes open.t When you seet the daughters of Shiloh coming out to dance in the celebration,t jump out from the vineyards. Each one of you, catch yourself a wife from among the daughters of Shiloh and then go home to the land of Benjamin.

22 When their fathers or brothers come and protest to us,s we’ll say to them, “Do us a favor and let them be,t for we could not get each one a wife through battle.ts Don’t worry about breaking your oath!t You would only be guilty if you had voluntarily given them wives.’”s
23 The Benjaminites did as instructed.t They abducted two hundred of the dancing girls to be their wives.t They went homet to their own territory,t rebuilt their cities, and settled down.t24 Then the Israelites dispersed from there to their respective tribal and clan territories. Each went from there to his own property.t

25 In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right.ts