Judges 21:1-12 ▼

1 Now 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).”

2 So 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!”

4 The next day the people got up early, built an altar there, and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5 The 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.

6 And 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.

7 What should we do about wives for the survivors, since we have sworn by the LORD {YHWH} not to give them our daughters in marriage?”

8 So 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.

9 For when the people were counted, none of the residents of Jabesh-gilead (dry) (rocky region) were there.

10 So 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.

11 This is what you⁺ are to do: Devote to destruction {cherem} every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.”

12 So 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).