Judges 21:1

1 The men of Israel had taken this oath in Mizpah: "None of us will ever let our daughters marry anyone from Benjamin."

Judges 21:1 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 21:1

Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh
Where they were there convened, before the war began; after they had heard the account the Levite gave of the affair, which brought them thither; and after they had sent messengers to Benjamin to deliver up the men of Gibeah, that had committed the wickedness; and after they perceived that Benjamin did not hearken to their demand, but prepared to make war with them; then, as they resolved on the destruction of Gibeah, and of all the cities that sent out men against them, even all the inhabitants of them, men, women, and children, entered into an oath, that they would use those men that remained as Heathens, and not intermarry with them, as follows:

saying, there shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to
wife;
seeing those that used the wife of the Levite in such a base manner, and those that protected and defended them, deserved to have no wives.

Judges 21:1 In-Context

1 The men of Israel had taken this oath in Mizpah: "None of us will ever let our daughters marry anyone from Benjamin."
2 The people went to Bethel and sat there in the presence of God until evening. They cried very loudly,
3 "LORD God of Israel, why has this happened among us? Why should one tribe be missing today in Israel?"
4 The next day the people got up early. They built an altar there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.
5 The people asked, "Is there any family from Israel that did not take part in the assembly in the presence of the LORD?" They had taken a solemn oath that whoever had not come into the presence of the LORD at Mizpah must be put to death.
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