Judges 21:15

15 And the people felt sorry for Benjamin because {Yahweh weakened the tribes of Israel}.

Judges 21:15 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 21:15

And the people repented them for Benjamin
That they had destroyed all their women, and that they had saved no more of the daughters of Jabeshgilead, not a sufficient number to be wives to the Benjaminites:

because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel;
by almost destroying one of them; for though this was done by the Israelites, yet by the permission and according to the will of God, and through his overruling providence.

Judges 21:15 In-Context

13 Then the congregation sent and spoke all [this] to the descendants of Benjamin who [were] at the rock of Rimmon, and {they assured them they would not be hurt}.

14 And Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave to them the women whom they kept alive from Jabesh-gilead; but they were not enough for them.

15 And the people felt sorry for Benjamin because {Yahweh weakened the tribes of Israel}.

16 So the elders of the congregation said, "What should we do for the remaining [ones] for wives, since the women from Benjamin have been destroyed?"

17 And they said, "[There must be] a remnant for Benjamin, so that a tribe will not be blotted out from Israel.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "Yahweh make a breach with the tribes of Israel"