Judges 21:16

16 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?"

Judges 21:16 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 21:16

Then the elders of the congregation said
&c.] This being the case, that there were not wives enough for them, they were obliged to consult again, and consider of another expedient to provide for them; and this motion came from the elders of the people, not only in years, but in office:

how shall we do for wives for them that remain:
the other two hundred, who had none:

seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
and so no wives to be had there; and as for the Israelites which came to Mizpeh, who were of all the tribes of Israel, they had solemnly sworn that they would not give any of their daughters to them, and therefore it was a very difficult thing to provide wives for them.

Judges 21:16 In-Context

14 Benjamin returned at that time, and Israel gave them the women they had kept alive from Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough for them.

15 The people had compassion on Benjamin, because the Lord had made this gap in the tribes of Israel.

16 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?"

17 They said, "There must be heirs for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out.

18 But we can't give them our daughters as wives." For the Israelites had sworn: "Anyone who gives a wife to a Benjaminite is cursed."