Wives for the Benjamites

1  וְאִ֣ישׁ (And the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) נִשְׁבַּ֥ע (had sworn an oath) בַּמִּצְפָּ֖ה (at Mizpah), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), אִ֣ישׁ (A man) מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (of us) לֹא־ (not) יִתֵּ֥ן (shall give) בִּתּ֛וֹ (his daughter) לְבִנְיָמִ֖ן (to Benjamin) לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ (as a wife).

2  וַיָּבֹ֤א (And came) הָעָם֙ (the people) בֵּֽית־ (to Beth-) אֵ֔ל (el) וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ (and remained) שָׁם֙ (there) עַד־ (until) הָעֶ֔רֶב (the evening) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the face of) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (God), וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ (and they lifted up) קוֹלָ֔ם (their voices) וַיִּבְכּ֖וּ (and wept), בְּכִ֥י (weeping) גָדֽוֹל׃ (bitterly), 3  וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (and they said), לָמָ֗ה (Why) יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), הָ֥יְתָה (has come to pass) זֹּ֖את (this) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (in Israel), לְהִפָּקֵ֥ד (to be lacking) הַיּ֛וֹם (today) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (in Israel) שֵׁ֥בֶט (tribe) אֶחָֽד׃ (one).

4  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת (on the next morning), וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ (that rose early) הָעָ֔ם (the people) וַיִּבְנוּ־ (and built) שָׁ֖ם (there) מִזְבֵּ֑חַ (an altar), וַיַּעֲל֥וּ (and they offered) עֹל֖וֹת (burnt offerings) וּשְׁלָמִֽים׃פ (and peace offerings). 5  וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (And said) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), מִ֠י (Who) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (is he that) לֹא־ (not) עָלָ֧ה (did come up) בַקָּהָ֛ל (with the assembly) מִכָּל־ (among all) שִׁבְטֵ֥י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH)? כִּי֩ (For) הַשְּׁבוּעָ֨ה (an oath) הַגְּדוֹלָ֜ה (great) הָיְתָ֗ה (had been) לַ֠אֲשֶׁר (concerning) לֹא־ (not) עָלָ֨ה (coming up) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֧ה (YHWH) הַמִּצְפָּ֛ה (at Mizpah), לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), מ֥וֹת (Dying) יוּמָֽת׃ (he must be put to death).

6  וַיִּנָּֽחֲמוּ֙ (And grieved) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (for) בִּנְיָמִ֖ן (Benjamin) אָחִ֑יו (their brother), וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (and they said), נִגְדַּ֥ע (Is cut off) הַיּ֛וֹם (today) שֵׁ֥בֶט (tribe) אֶחָ֖ד (one) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (from Israel). 7  מַה־ (What) נַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה (shall we do) לָהֶ֛ם (for those) לַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים (who remain) לְנָשִׁ֑ים (for wives), וַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ (and we) נִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּ (have sworn) בַֽיהוָ֔ה (by YHWH) לְבִלְתִּ֛י (that not) תֵּת־ (we will give) לָהֶ֥ם (to them) מִבְּנוֹתֵ֖ינוּ (our daughters) לְנָשִֽׁים׃ (as wives)?

8  וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (And they said), מִ֗י (Who is) אֶחָד֙ (one) מִשִּׁבְטֵ֣י (from the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) אֲשֶׁ֛ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) עָלָ֥ה (did come up) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה (to Mizpah)? וְ֠הִנֵּה (And behold), לֹ֣א (no) בָא־ (had come) אִ֧ישׁ (man) אֶל־ (to) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה (the camp) מִיָּבֵ֥ישׁ (from Jabesh-) גִּלְעָ֖ד (gilead) אֶל־ (to) הַקָּהָֽל׃ (the assembly). 9  וַיִּתְפָּקֵ֖ד (And were numbered) הָעָ֑ם (the people), וְהִנֵּ֤ה (and behold), אֵֽין־ (not) שָׁם֙ (was there) אִ֔ישׁ (a man) מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֖י (of the dwellers) יָבֵ֥שׁ (of Jabesh-) גִּלְעָֽד׃ (gilead).

10  וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ־ (And sent out) שָׁ֣ם (there) הָעֵדָ֗ה (the congregation) שְׁנֵים־ (two) עָשָׂ֥ר (and ten) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) אִ֖ישׁ (men) מִבְּנֵ֣י (of) הֶחָ֑יִל (their most valiant), וַיְצַוּ֨וּ (and they commanded) אוֹתָ֜ם (them), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), לְ֠כוּ (Go) וְהִכִּיתֶ֞ם (and strike) אֶת־ (-) יוֹשְׁבֵ֨י (the dwellers) יָבֵ֤שׁ (in Jabesh-) גִּלְעָד֙ (gilead) לְפִי־ (with the mouth) חֶ֔רֶב (of the sword), וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים (and the women) וְהַטָּֽף׃ (and the children). 11  וְזֶ֥ה (And this is) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the thing) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ (you⁺ shall do), כָּל־ (every) זָכָ֗ר (male) וְכָל־ (and every) אִשָּׁ֛ה (woman) יֹדַ֥עַת (knowing) מִשְׁכַּב־ (the lying) זָכָ֖ר (of a male) תַּחֲרִֽימוּ׃ (you⁺ shall devote to destruction).

12  וַֽיִּמְצְא֞וּ (And they found) מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֣י׀ (among the dwellers) יָבֵ֣ישׁ (of Jabesh-) גִּלְעָ֗ד (gilead) אַרְבַּ֤ע (four) מֵאוֹת֙ (hundred) נַעֲרָ֣ה (young) בְתוּלָ֔ה (virgins), אֲשֶׁ֧ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) יָדְעָ֛ה (had known) אִ֖ישׁ (a man) לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב (by the lying) זָכָ֑ר (with a male), וַיָּבִ֨יאוּ (and they brought in) אוֹתָ֤ם (them) אֶל־ (to) הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ (the camp) שִׁלֹ֔ה (at Shiloh), אֲשֶׁ֖ר (which) בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (is in the land) כְּנָֽעַן׃ס (of Canaan).

13  וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ (And sent) כָּל־ (all) הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה (the congregation) וַֽיְדַבְּרוּ֙ (and spoke) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֔ן (of Benjamin) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (who were) בְּסֶ֣לַע (at the rock) רִמּ֑וֹן (of Rimmon), וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ (and they proclaimed) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) שָׁלֽוֹם׃ (peace). 14  וַיָּ֤שָׁב (And came back) בִּנְיָמִן֙ (Benjamin) בָּעֵ֣ת (at the time) הַהִ֔יא (that), וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ (and they gave) לָהֶם֙ (them) הַנָּשִׁ֔ים (the women) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) חִיּ֔וּ (they had saved alive) מִנְּשֵׁ֖י (of the women) יָבֵ֣שׁ (from Jabesh-) גִּלְעָ֑ד (gilead) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) מָצְא֥וּ (they had found) לָהֶ֖ם (for them) כֵּֽן׃ (enough).

15  וְהָעָ֥ם (And the people) נִחָ֖ם (grieved) לְבִנְיָמִ֑ן (for Benjamin), כִּֽי־ (because) עָשָׂ֧ה (had made) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) פֶּ֖רֶץ (a void) בְּשִׁבְטֵ֥י (in the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

16  וַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּ (And said) זִקְנֵ֣י (the elders) הָעֵדָ֔ה (of the congregation), מַה־ (What) נַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה (shall we do) לַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים (for those who remain) לְנָשִׁ֑ים (for wives), כִּֽי־ (since) נִשְׁמְדָ֥ה (have been destroyed) מִבִּנְיָמִ֖ן (out of Benjamin) אִשָּֽׁה׃ (the women). 17  וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (And they said), יְרֻשַּׁ֥ת (An inheritance) פְּלֵיטָ֖ה (for the survivors) לְבִנְיָמִ֑ן (of Benjamin), וְלֹֽא־ (that not) יִמָּחֶ֥ה (will be blotted out) שֵׁ֖בֶט (a tribe) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (from Israel). 18  וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ (And we) לֹ֥א (not) נוּכַ֛ל (are able) לָתֵת־ (to give) לָהֶ֥ם (to them) נָשִׁ֖ים (wives) מִבְּנוֹתֵ֑ינוּ (from our daughters).

כִּֽי־ (For) נִשְׁבְּע֤וּ (had sworn an oath) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אָר֕וּר (Cursed be) נֹתֵ֥ן (the one who gives) אִשָּׁ֖ה (a wife) לְבִנְיָמִֽן׃ס (to Benjamin).

19  וַיֹּאמְר֡וּ (And they said), הִנֵּה֩ (Behold), חַג־ (there is a feast) יְהוָ֨ה (of YHWH) בְּשִׁל֜וֹ (in Shiloh) מִיָּמִ֣ים׀ (from days) יָמִ֗ימָה (to days), אֲשֶׁ֞ר (which is) מִצְּפ֤וֹנָה (north) לְבֵֽית־ (of Beth-) אֵל֙ (el) מִזְרְחָ֣ה (at the rising) הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ (of the sun) לִמְסִלָּ֔ה (by the highway) הָעֹלָ֥ה (that goes up) מִבֵּֽית־ (from Beth-) אֵ֖ל (el) שְׁכֶ֑מָה (to Shechem), וּמִנֶּ֖גֶב (and from the south) לִלְבוֹנָֽה׃ (of Lebonah).

20  וַיְצַו (And they commanded) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֖ן (of Benjamin), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), לְכ֖וּ (Go) וַאֲרַבְתֶּ֥ם (and lie in wait) בַּכְּרָמִֽים׃ (in the vineyards). 21  וּרְאִיתֶ֗ם (And watch), וְ֠הִנֵּה (and behold), אִם־ (if) יֵ֨צְא֥וּ (come out) בְנוֹת־ (the daughters) שִׁילוֹ֮ (of Shiloh) לָח֣וּל (to perform) בַּמְּחֹלוֹת֒ (their dances), וִֽיצָאתֶם֙ (then you⁺ shall come out) מִן־ (from) הַכְּרָמִ֔ים (the vineyards) וַחֲטַפְתֶּ֥ם (and you⁺ shall catch) לָכֶ֛ם (for yourselves) אִ֥ישׁ (every man) אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ (a wife) מִבְּנ֣וֹת (from the daughters) שִׁיל֑וֹ (of Shiloh), וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֖ם (and go) אֶ֥רֶץ (to the land) בִּנְיָמִֽן׃ (of Benjamin). 22  וְהָיָ֡ה (And it shall be), כִּֽי־ (when) יָבֹ֣אוּ (come) אֲבוֹתָם֩ (their fathers) א֨וֹ (or) אֲחֵיהֶ֜ם (their brothers) לָרוֹב (to plead), אֵלֵ֗ינוּ (to us) וְאָמַ֤רְנוּ (that we will say) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (to them) חָנּ֣וּנוּ (Be kind) אוֹתָ֔ם (to them), כִּ֣י (since) לֹ֥א (not) לָקַ֛חְנוּ (we did take) אִ֥ישׁ (to each man) אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ (a wife) בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (in the war), כִּ֣י (for) לֹ֥א (not) אַתֶּ֛ם (you⁺)— נְתַתֶּ֥ם (you⁺ have given) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) כָּעֵ֥ת (at this time)— תֶּאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ס (that you⁺ should be guilty).

23  וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־ (And did) כֵן֙ (so) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֔ן (of Benjamin), וַיִּשְׂא֤וּ (and they took enough) נָשִׁים֙ (wives) לְמִסְפָּרָ֔ם (for their number) מִן־ (from) הַמְּחֹלְל֖וֹת (those who danced), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) גָּזָ֑לוּ (they caught). וַיֵּלְכ֗וּ (And they went) וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ (and returned) אֶל־ (to) נַ֣חֲלָתָ֔ם (their inheritance), וַיִּבְנוּ֙ (and they rebuilt) אֶת־ (-) הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים (the cities) וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ (and dwelt) בָּהֶֽם׃ (in them). 24  וַיִּתְהַלְּכ֨וּ (And departed) מִשָּׁ֤ם (from there) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) בָּעֵ֣ת (at the time) הַהִ֔יא (that), אִ֥ישׁ (every man) לְשִׁבְט֖וֹ (to his tribe) וּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹ (and to his family), וַיֵּצְא֣וּ (and went out) מִשָּׁ֔ם (from there) אִ֖ישׁ (every man) לְנַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃ (to his inheritance).

25  בַּיָּמִ֣ים (In the days) הָהֵ֔ם (those) אֵ֥ין (not was) מֶ֖לֶךְ (a king) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (in Israel); אִ֛ישׁ (everyone) הַיָּשָׁ֥ר (right) בְּעֵינָ֖יו (in his own eyes) יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (did).