Judges 21:16
New International Version
And the elders of the assembly said, “With the women of Benjamin destroyed, how shall we provide wives for the men who are left?

New Living Translation
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?

English Standard Version
Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?”

Berean Standard Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”

King James Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

New King James Version
Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”

New American Standard Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, “What are we to do for wives for those who are left, since the women have been eliminated from Benjamin?”

NASB 1995
Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?”

NASB 1977
Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?”

Amplified Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those [men] who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”

Christian Standard Bible
The elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”

American Standard Version
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

Contemporary English Version
Then their leaders said: All the women of the Benjamin tribe were killed. How can we get wives for the men of Benjamin who are left?

English Revised Version
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The leaders of the congregation asked, "What should we do to provide wives for the men who are left, since the women in Benjamin have been killed?"

Good News Translation
So the leaders of the gathering said, "There are no more women in the tribe of Benjamin. What shall we do to provide wives for the men who are left?

International Standard Version
So the elders of the congregation asked, "What will we do to obtain wives for the survivors, since the women of Benjamin have been devastated?"

Majority Standard Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, ?What should we do about wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed??

NET Bible
The leaders of the assembly said, "How can we find wives for those who are left? After all, the Benjaminite women have been wiped out.

New Heart English Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, "How shall we provide wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

World English Bible
Then the elders of the congregation said, “How shall we provide wives for those who remain, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And [the] elderly of the congregation say, “What do we do to the remnant for wives—for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin?”

Young's Literal Translation
And the elders of the company say, 'What do we do to the remnant for wives -- for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the old men of the assembly will say, What shall we do for those remaining for wives, for the women were destroyed from Benjamin?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the ancients said: What shall we do with the rest, that have not received wives? for all the women in Benjamin are dead.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And those greater by birth said: “What shall we do with the remainder, those who have not received wives? For all the females of Benjamin have been cut down,

New American Bible
The elders of the assembly said, “What shall we do for wives for the survivors? For the women of Benjamin have been annihilated.”

New Revised Standard Version
So the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since there are no women left in Benjamin?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the elders of the people said. What shall we do for wives for those that remain, for all the Benjamite women have perished?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Elders of the people said: “What shall we do for those who are left without wives, these who are left, because the women of Benyamin are destroyed?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then the elders of the congregation said: 'How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for wives for them that remain? for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wives for the Benjamites
15The people grieved for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a void in the tribes of Israel. 16Then the elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?” 17They added, “There must be heirs for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out.…

Cross References
Judges 20:47-48
But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. / And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path.

Judges 11:1-2
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor; he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father. / And Gilead’s wife bore him sons who grew up, drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.”

Ruth 1:11-13
But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands? / Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, / would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”

Genesis 24:3-4
and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling, / but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”

Deuteronomy 25:5-6
When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. / The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

1 Samuel 9:2
And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.

1 Samuel 25:39-42
On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. / When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.” / She arose, bowed facedown, and said, “Here is your servant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.” ...

2 Samuel 13:13
Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”

1 Kings 11:1-3
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. / He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away.

Ezra 9:12
Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’

Nehemiah 13:23-27
In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. / Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah. / I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! ...

Matthew 22:24-28
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother. / The same thing happened to the second and third brothers, down to the seventh. ...

Mark 12:19-23
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children. / Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise. ...

Luke 20:28-33
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife but died childless. / Then the second ...

Romans 7:2-3
For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.


Treasury of Scripture

Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

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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














Then the elders of the congregation
The term "elders" refers to the leaders or senior figures within the Israelite community, often tasked with making important decisions. In Hebrew, the word for elders is "זְקֵנִים" (zeqenim), which implies wisdom and experience. Historically, elders played a crucial role in guiding the tribes of Israel, especially during times of crisis. Their involvement here underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for wise counsel.

said
The act of speaking or declaring, in this context, indicates a formal discussion or decision-making process. The Hebrew root "אָמַר" (amar) is often used in the Bible to denote authoritative speech. This highlights the seriousness of the deliberation among the elders as they seek a solution to a dire problem.

How can we provide wives
This phrase reveals the elders' concern for the continuity of the tribe of Benjamin. The Hebrew verb "נָתַן" (natan), meaning "to give" or "to provide," suggests an active role in ensuring the survival of the tribe. The provision of wives is not merely a logistical issue but a matter of preserving the covenant community of Israel.

for those who are left
The phrase "those who are left" refers to the surviving men of the tribe of Benjamin after a devastating civil war. The Hebrew word "שָׁאַר" (sha'ar) means "to remain" or "to be left over," emphasizing the remnant status of these men. This highlights the near extinction of a tribe and the urgent need for restoration and healing within the nation.

since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed
The destruction of the women of Benjamin is a tragic consequence of the conflict described earlier in the Book of Judges. The Hebrew word "שָׁחַת" (shachat) means "to destroy" or "to ruin," indicating the complete devastation faced by the tribe. This phrase underscores the severity of the situation and the need for reconciliation and rebuilding within the community of Israel.

(16) How shall we do . . .?--They want to keep their vow in the letter, while they break it in the spirit. The sense of the binding nature of the "ban" was intensely strong (Exodus 20:7; Ezekiel 17:18-19), but, as is so often the case among rude and ignorant people, they fancied that it was sufficient to keep it literally, while in effect they violated it. Similarly in Herodotus (iv. 154), Themison having sworn to throw Phronima into the sea--the intention having been that she should be drowned--feels himself bound to throw her into the sea, but has her drawn out of it again. Their want of moral enlightenment revealed itself in this way, and still more in having ever taken this horrible oath, which involved the butchery of innocent men, and of still more innocent women and children. In point of fact, the cherem often broke down under the strain which it placed on men's best feelings (1Samuel 14:45) as well as on their lower temptations. The guilt of breaking a guilty vow is only the original guilt of ever having made it. What the Israelites should have done was not to bathe their hands in more rivers of fraternal blood, but to pray to God to forgive the brutal vehemence which disgraced a cause originally righteous, and to have allowed the remnant of the Benjamites to intermarry with them once more. As it was, they were led by ignorance and rashness into several vows which could not be fulfilled without horrible cruelty and bloodshed, and the fulfilment of which they after all casuistically evaded, and that at the cost of still more bloodshed. As all these events took place under the guidance of Phinehas, they give us a high estimate indeed of the zeal which was his noblest characteristic (Psalm 106:30), yet a very low estimate of his state of spiritual insight; and clearly to such a man the fulfilment of Jephthah's cherem by sacrificing his daughter (see Note on Judges 11:39) would have seemed as nothing compared to the extermination of tribes and of cities, involving the shedding of rivers of innocent blood. But why should we suppose that the grandson of Aaron, in such times as these--when all was anarchy, idolatry, and restlessness, against which he either did not strive or strove most ineffectually--should stand on so much higher a level than his schismatical and semi-idolatrous cousin, the wandering grandson of Moses?

Verse 16. - Seeing the women. It is rather more in accordance with the Hebrew style to take the words as the narrator's explanation of the question, What shall we do? They said this because all the women of Benjamin had been destroyed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the elders
זִקְנֵ֣י (ziq·nê)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2205: Old

of the congregation
הָעֵדָ֔ה (hā·‘ê·ḏāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5712: A stated assemblage

said,
וַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“What
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

should we do
נַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה (na·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

about wives
לְנָשִׁ֑ים (lə·nā·šîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

for those who remain,
לַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים (lan·nō·w·ṯā·rîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3498: To jut over, exceed, to excel, to remain, be left, to leave, cause to abound, preserve

since
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the women
אִשָּֽׁה׃ (’iš·šāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

of Benjamin
מִבִּנְיָמִ֖ן (mib·bin·yā·min)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1144: Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelites

have been destroyed?”
נִשְׁמְדָ֥ה (niš·mə·ḏāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 8045: To be exterminated or destroyed


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OT History: Judges 21:16 Then the elders of the congregation said (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 21:15
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