Judges 21:8

8 They asked, "Which one is there from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to Yahweh at Mizpah?" And behold, no one came from Jabesh-gilead to the camp, to the assembly.

Judges 21:8 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 21:8

And they said, what one is there of the tribes of Israel that
came not up to Mizpeh to the Lord?
&c.] This is asked not only to bring them to justice, and put them to death, according to their oath, who should be found guilty, ( Judges 21:5 ) but as an expedient to find wives for the surviving Benjaminites; since these, as they came not to Mizpeh, so consequently swore not that they would not give their daughters to Benjaminites; wherefore from among them wives might be given to them, without the violation of an oath:

and, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the
assembly;
this was observed by some upon the question put, which caused an inquiry to be made as after related. This city was in the land of Gilead, from whence it had its name, on the other side Jordan, and is placed by Adrichomius ^F1 in the half tribe of Manasseh; and Jerom ^F2 says it was a village in his time six miles from the city Pella, upon a mountain, as you go to Gerasa.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Theatrum Terrae S. p. 90.
F2 De loc. Heb. fol. 88. K. & fol. 93. L.

Judges 21:8 In-Context

6 But the {Israelites} had compassion for Benjamin, their relatives, and they said, "Today one tribe is cut off from Israel.

7 What will we do for them--for the [ones] being left over--for wives? For we have sworn by Yahweh not to give to them our daughters as wives."

8 They asked, "Which one is there from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to Yahweh at Mizpah?" And behold, no one came from Jabesh-gilead to the camp, to the assembly.

9 The people were counted, and no one was there from the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead.

10 And the congregation sent there twelve thousand men from the troops, and they commanded them, saying, "Go, strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with {the edge of the sword}, and the women and children.