Judges 21:1
New International Version
The men of Israel had taken an oath at Mizpah: “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”

New Living Translation
The Israelites had vowed at Mizpah, “We will never give our daughters in marriage to a man from the tribe of Benjamin.”

English Standard Version
Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, “No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.”

Berean Standard Bible
Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”

King James Bible
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

New King James Version
Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.”

New American Standard Bible
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin in marriage.”

NASB 1995
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin in marriage.”

NASB 1977
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin in marriage.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.”

Amplified Bible
Now the men of Israel had sworn [an oath] at Mizpah, “None of us shall give his daughter in marriage to [a man of] Benjamin.”

Christian Standard Bible
The men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah: “None of us will give his daughter to a Benjaminite in marriage.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah: “None of us will give his daughter to a Benjaminite in marriage.”

American Standard Version
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

Contemporary English Version
When the Israelites had met at Mizpah before the war with Benjamin, they had made this sacred promise: "None of us will ever let our daughters marry any man from Benjamin."

English Revised Version
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The men of Israel had taken this oath in Mizpah: "None of us will ever let our daughters marry anyone from Benjamin."

Good News Translation
When the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, they had made a solemn promise to the LORD: "None of us will allow a Benjaminite to marry a daughter of ours."

International Standard Version
Now the people of Israel had taken a vow in Mizpah that went like this: "Not even one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a descendant of Benjamin!"

Majority Standard Bible
Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”

NET Bible
The Israelites had taken an oath in Mizpah, saying, "Not one of us will allow his daughter to marry a Benjaminite."

New Heart English Bible
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, "There shall not any of us give his daughter to Benjamin as wife."

Webster's Bible Translation
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter to Benjamin for a wife.

World English Bible
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us will give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the men of Israel have sworn in Mizpeh, saying, “None of us gives his daughter to Benjamin for a wife.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the men of Israel have sworn in Mizpeh, saying, 'None of us doth give his daughter to Benjamin for a wife.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the men of Israel sware in Mizpeh, saying, A man from us shall not give his daughter to Benjamin for wife.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now the children of Israel had also sworn in Maspha, saying: None of us shall give of his daughters to the children of Benjamin to wife.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The sons of Israel had also taken an oath at Mizpah, and they said, “None of us shall give his daughters as a wife to the sons of Benjamin.”

New American Bible
The men of Israel took an oath at Mizpah: “None of us will give his daughter in marriage to anyone from Benjamin.”

New Revised Standard Version
Now the Israelites had sworn at Mizpah, “No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
NOW the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpeh, saying, None of us shall give his daughter in marriage to the Benjamites.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the men of Israel took an oath in Mezpaya and they said: “No man of us shall give his daughter to the sons of Benjamin for a wife"
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying: 'There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Now the children of Israel swore in Massephath, saying, No man of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin for a wife.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wives for the Benjamites
1Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.” 2So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, lifting up their voices and weeping bitterly.…

Cross References
Judges 20:1-2
Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah. / The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.

Numbers 30:2
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

1 Samuel 14:24-28
Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food. / Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. / And when they entered the forest and saw the flowing honey, not one of them put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. ...

1 Samuel 14:39-45
As surely as the LORD who saves Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan, he must die!” But not one of the troops said a word. / Then Saul said to all Israel, “You stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side.” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied. / So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge. ...

1 Samuel 18:17-19
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” / And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?” / So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

1 Samuel 25:22-34
May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one male belonging to Nabal survive until morning.” / When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him. / She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant. ...

2 Samuel 21:1-9
During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” / At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.) / So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?” ...

2 Kings 3:7
And he sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” “I will go,” replied Jehoshaphat. “I am as you are, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses.”

Psalm 15:4
who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. / It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

Matthew 5:33-37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ / But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ...

Matthew 14:6-9
On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod / so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked. / Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ...

Mark 6:22-26
When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” / And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” / Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.” ...

Acts 23:12-15
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter to Benjamin to wife.

had sword

Judges 20:1,8,10
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh…

Jeremiah 4:2
And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

There

Judges 21:5
And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.

Judges 11:30,31
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, …

1 Samuel 14:24,28,29
And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food…

his daughter

Exodus 34:12-16
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: …

Deuteronomy 7:2,3
And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: …

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Judges 21
1. The people bewail the desolation of Benjamin
8. By the destruction of Jabesh Gilead they provide them four hundred wives.
16. They advise the remainder to surprise the virgins that danced at Shiloh














Now the men of Israel
This phrase refers to the collective tribes of Israel, emphasizing their unity and shared identity as God's chosen people. Historically, the Israelites were descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, and their unity was crucial for maintaining their covenant relationship with God. The phrase sets the stage for the communal decision-making process that follows, highlighting the gravity of their actions as a nation.

had sworn an oath
The act of swearing an oath in ancient Israel was a solemn and binding commitment, often invoking God's name as a witness. In Hebrew, the word for oath is "שְׁבוּעָה" (shevu'ah), which signifies a promise that must not be broken. This reflects the seriousness with which the Israelites approached their covenantal obligations, understanding that breaking an oath could bring divine judgment.

at Mizpah
Mizpah was a significant location in Israel's history, often serving as a gathering place for the tribes. Archaeologically, Mizpah is identified with several sites, but it is generally considered a place of watchfulness or lookout. It was here that the Israelites gathered to address national crises, underscoring its role as a center for communal decision-making and spiritual reflection.

Not one of us
This phrase underscores the collective resolve and unanimity among the Israelites. It reflects a communal decision that binds each member of the tribes, illustrating the concept of corporate responsibility. In the context of ancient Israel, such unity was essential for maintaining social order and religious fidelity.

will give his daughter in marriage
Marriage in ancient Israel was not just a personal union but a social contract that affected familial and tribal alliances. The giving of a daughter in marriage was a significant act that could forge or sever important relationships. This phrase highlights the gravity of the oath, as it directly impacts the social and familial structures within the tribes.

to a Benjamite
The tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, was at the center of a severe conflict with the other tribes, as recounted in the preceding chapters of Judges. This phrase indicates the depth of the rift between Benjamin and the rest of Israel, resulting from the grievous sin committed in Gibeah. Historically, the tribe of Benjamin was nearly annihilated due to this conflict, and this oath further isolates them, demonstrating the severe consequences of sin and disobedience.

(1) Had sworn.--The circumstance has not been mentioned in the account of the proceedings at Mizpeh. It is clear from the sequel (Judges 21:18) that the oath was not only an oath but "a vow under a curse," as in Acts 23:14.

Verse 1. - Now the men of Israel, etc. A circumstance not mentioned before is now brought forward, as is another in ver. 5, on which the events about to be narrated in this chapter depend, viz, that the men of Israel had taken two solemn oaths at Mizpeh (Judges 20:1) - the one that no Israelite would give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite; the other that whosoever did not come up to the national assembly there should be put to death.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now the men
וְאִ֣ישׁ (wə·’îš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

had sworn an oath
נִשְׁבַּ֥ע (niš·ba‘)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

at Mizpah,
בַּמִּצְפָּ֖ה (bam·miṣ·pāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4709: Mizpah -- the name of several places in Israel

saying,
לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Not one
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of us
מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (mim·men·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

will give his daughter
בִּתּ֛וֹ (bit·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

in marriage
יִתֵּ֥ן (yit·tên)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

to a Benjamite.”
לְבִנְיָמִ֖ן (lə·ḇin·yā·min)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1144: Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelites


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OT History: Judges 21:1 Now the men of Israel had sworn (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 20:48
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