Judges 21:1-7

Mourning Lost Tribe

1 Now the men of Israel ¹had sworn in Mizpah, saying, "None * of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin in marriage."

2 ²So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly *.

3 They said, "Why, O LORD, God of Israel, has this come about in Israel, so that one tribe should be missing today in Israel?"

4 It came about the next day that the people arose early and built ³an altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5 Then the sons of Israel said, "Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?" For they had taken a great oath concerning him ⁴who did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death."

6 And the sons of Israel were sorry for their brother Benjamin and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel today.

7 "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have ⁵sworn by the LORD not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?"

Judges 21:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 21

This chapter relates how that when the Israelites calmed down, and seriously to reflect on what had passed, they were sore grieved, and much lamented the case of Benjamin, and were particularly concerned what they should do for wives for those few men that remained, that the tribe might be built up again, Jud 21:1-7 and for these they provided wives, partly out of Jabeshgilead, the inhabitants of which came not up to the convention at Mizpeh, and therefore they smote them, men, women, and children, only reserved four hundred virgins, whom they gave to the men of Benjamin, Jud 21:8-15, and partly from among the daughters of Shiloh, taken at a yearly feast there, the taking of whom was connived at, the other number not being sufficient, Jud 21:16-25.

Cross References

• 1. Judges 21:7, 18
• 2. Judges 20:26
• 3. Deuteronomy 12:5; 2 Samuel 24:25
• 4. Judges 5:23
• 5. Judges 21:1

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "for a wife"
• [b] Lit "with great weeping"
• [c] Lit "there was a great oath"