Why did the Israelites seek wives from Jabesh-gilead for the Benjamites? Setting the Scene: Israel’s Painful Predicament The tribal war against Benjamin left 600 surviving Benjamite men (Judges 20:47). Israel had sworn, “‘None of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.’” (Judges 21:1) Yet the nation soon grieved over wiping out a tribe (21:2-3). They needed wives for the remnant, but their oath barred them from offering their own daughters. The Binding Vow and Its Implications • Vows were sacred and irrevocable (Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21-23). • Breaking the oath would invite divine judgment. • A lawful workaround had to honor both the vow and the preservation of Benjamin. Locating a Community Outside the Oath • At Mizpah, all Israel had been summoned to fight Benjamin (Judges 20:1-2). • Anyone who stayed home fell under a curse: “Whoever did not come up… shall surely be put to death” (Judges 21:5). • A census revealed one absentee town: “No one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead” (Judges 21:8). Why Jabesh-Gilead Was Selected Israel targeted Jabesh-gilead for three practical and covenant-keeping reasons: 1. They had failed to heed the national call and were therefore liable to the previously announced death penalty (21:5, 8-9). 2. Because Jabesh-gilead did not participate in the oath-making assembly, its unmarried women were not covered by the vow that barred intermarriage with Benjamin. 3. Taking wives from that town allowed Israel to supply Benjamin with spouses without technically “giving” their own daughters, preserving the integrity of their promise before God. Executing the Plan (Judges 21:10-14) • 12,000 soldiers struck Jabesh-gilead, killing every male and non-virgin female. • 400 virgin girls were spared and brought to Shiloh. • These virgins were offered to the Benjamites as wives, alleviating the threat of tribal extinction while upholding Israel’s vow. Related Scriptural Echoes • Deuteronomy 21:10-14 outlines regulations for marrying captive women; Israel followed similar steps here. • 1 Samuel 11:1-11 shows future gratitude: Saul, a Benjamite, later rescues Jabesh-gilead, perhaps reflecting a lingering bond created through these marriages. Takeaways for Today • God expects faithfulness to our vows, even when costly (Psalm 15:4). • Rash promises can create painful dilemmas; wisdom should precede commitment (Proverbs 20:25). • The Lord can bring restoration out of national or personal crises when His people seek Him and honor His Word. |
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