Judges 21:18

18 We may not give our daughters to them, for we be bound with an oath and cursing, by which we said, Be he cursed that giveth of his daughters (for) a wife to Benjamin.

Judges 21:18 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 21:18

Howbeit, we may not give them wives of our daughters
Though their case was so very necessitous and desperate:

for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, cursed be he that giveth
a wife to Benjamin,
( Judges 21:1 ) and therefore without the violation of their oath could not give any of their daughters in marriage to them: wherefore some other way must be devised to help them.

Judges 21:18 In-Context

16 And the greater men in birth said, What shall we do to the other men, that have not taken wives? All the women in the lineage of Benjamin have fallen down, (And the men of great age, that is, the elders, said, What shall we do for the other men who have not received wives? For all the women in the tribe of Benjamin have been killed,)

17 and it is to us to purvey with great care and great study, that one lineage be not done away from Israel. (and it is for us to find a way, so that one tribe be not done away from Israel.)

18 We may not give our daughters to them, for we be bound with an oath and cursing, by which we said, Be he cursed that giveth of his daughters (for) a wife to Benjamin.

19 And they took counsel, and said, Lo! the solemnity of the Lord is in Shiloh, (after) the year's turning about, that is set at the north coast of the city of Bethel, and at the east coast of the way that goeth from Bethel to Shechem, and at the south of the city of Lebonah. (And they took counsel, and said, Lo! the Feast of the Lord shall soon be in Shiloh, after the year's turning about, yea, that city which is north of the city of Bethel, and to the east on the way that goeth from Bethel to Shechem, and to the south of the city of Lebonah.)

20 And they commanded to the sons of Benjamin, and said, Go ye, and be ye hid in [the] vineries; (And they commanded to the Benjaminites, and said, Go ye, and be ye hid there in the vineyards;)