Judges 21:9

9 For after they counted all the people, no one from Jabesh-gilead was present.

Judges 21:9 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 21:9

For the people were numbered
To know who did come up, and who did not, and particularly to know whether the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead did or not, against whom an information was brought:

and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there;
for as yet none that came had returned home; all came to Shiloh first, to pay their devotion to the Lord; and as none were found among the living, it did not appear they were among the slain; and very probably the muster roll was taken before they went to battle, and they were not on that.

Judges 21:9 In-Context

7 How can we find wives for the few who remain, since we have sworn by the LORD not to give them our daughters in marriage?”

8 So they asked, “Who among the tribes of Israel did not join us at Mizpah when we assembled in the presence of the LORD ?” And they discovered that no one from Jabesh-gilead had attended the assembly.

9 For after they counted all the people, no one from Jabesh-gilead was present.

10 So the assembly sent 12,000 of their best warriors to Jabesh-gilead with orders to kill everyone there, including women and children.

11 “This is what you are to do,” they said. “Completely destroy all the males and every woman who is not a virgin.”