Judges 21:5-25 ▼

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).

13 Then the whole congregation sent a message of peace to the Benjamites (son of the right hand) who were at the rock of Rimmon (pomegranate).

14 And 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.

15 The 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).

16 Then 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?”

17 They 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.

18 But 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).”

20 So they commanded the Benjamites (son of the right hand): “Go, hide in the vineyards

21 and 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).

22 When 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.’”

23 The 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.

24 And at that time, each of the Israelites (God prevails) returned from there to his own tribe and clan, each to his own inheritance.

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