Wives for the Benjamites

1Now the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) had sworn an oath at Mizpah (watchtower), saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite (son of the right hand).”

2So the people came to Bethel (house of God) and sat there before God {Elohim} until evening, lifting up their voices and weeping bitterly. 3“Why, O LORD God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God),” they cried out, “has this happened in Israel? Today in Israel one tribe is missing!”

4The next day the people got up early, built an altar there, and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings. 5The Israelites (God prevails) asked, “Who among all the tribes of Israel did not come to the assembly before the LORD {YHWH}?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah (watchtower) would surely be put to death.

6And the Israelites (God prevails) grieved for their brothers, the Benjamites (son of the right hand), and said, “Today a tribe is cut off from Israel. 7What should we do about wives for the survivors, since we have sworn by the LORD {YHWH} not to give them our daughters in marriage?”

8So they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God) failed to come up before the LORD {YHWH} at Mizpah (watchtower)?” And, in fact, no one from Jabesh-gilead (dry) (rocky region) had come to the camp for the assembly. 9For when the people were counted, none of the residents of Jabesh-gilead (dry) (rocky region) were there.

10So the congregation sent 12,000 of their most valiant men and commanded them: “Go and put to the sword those living in Jabesh-gilead (dry) (rocky region), including women and children. 11This is what you⁺ are to do: Devote to destruction {cherem}a every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.”

12So they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead (dry) (rocky region) four hundred young women who had not had relations with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh (place of rest) in the land of Canaan (lowland).

13Then the whole congregation sent a message of peace to the Benjamites (son of the right hand) who were at the rock of Rimmon (pomegranate). 14And at that time the Benjamites (son of the right hand) returned and were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead (dry) (rocky region). But there were not enough women for all of them.

15The people grieved for Benjamin (son of the right hand), because the LORD {YHWH} had made a void in the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God).

16Then the elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin (son of the right hand) have been destroyed?” 17They added, “There must be heirs for the survivors of Benjamin (son of the right hand), so that a tribe of Israel (he wrestles with God) will not be wiped out. 18But we cannot give them our daughters as wives.”

For the Israelites (God prevails) had sworn, “Cursed is he who gives a wife to a Benjamite (son of the right hand).”

19“But look,” they said, “there is a yearly feast to the LORD {YHWH} in Shiloh (place of rest), which is north of Bethel (house of God) east of the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem (shoulder), and south of Lebonah (frankincense).”

20So they commanded the Benjamites (son of the right hand): “Go, hide in the vineyards 21and watch. When you⁺ see the daughters of Shiloh (place of rest) come out to perform their dances, each of you⁺ is to come out of the vineyards, catch for himself a wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin (son of the right hand). 22When their fathers or brothers come to us to complain, we will tell them, ‘Do us a favor by helping them, since we did not get wives for each of them in the war. Since you⁺ did not actually give them your daughters, you⁺ have no guilt.’”

23The Benjamites (son of the right hand) did as instructed and carried away the number of women they needed from the dancers they caught. They went back to their own inheritance, rebuilt their cities, and settled in them. 24And at that time, each of the Israelites (God prevails) returned from there to his own tribe and clan, each to his own inheritance.

25In those days there was no king in Israel (he wrestles with God); everyone did what was right in his own eyes.