Judges 21:12

12 And four hundred virgins, that knew not the bed of (a) man, were found (among the people) of Jabesh of Gilead; and they brought them to the tents in Shiloh, into the land of Canaan.

Judges 21:12 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 21:12

And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four
hundred young virgins
Or damsel virgins F5; damsels that were virgins: that had known no man by lying with any male: which was judged of by their age, and by their unmarried state, and by common report, unless it can be thought they were examined by matrons; but how it was that they were not obliged, or did not think themselves obliged by their oath to put these to death, as well as others, is not easy to say; whether they thought the necessity of the case would excuse it, or they had a dispensation from the Lord for it, on consulting him; however, so it was:

and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of
Canaan;
this is observed because that Jabeshgilead was not in the land of Canaan, from whence they were brought, but in the land of Og king of Bashan; only what was on this side Jordan was the land of Canaan, and in that Shiloh was, to which they were brought; and this shows that not the city Bethel, but Shiloh, was the place whither the people or army of Israel came to offer sacrifice after the war was ended.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (hlwtb hren) "puellam viginem", Montanus; "puellas virgines", Pagninus, Tigurine version, Drusius, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Judges 21:12 In-Context

10 Therefore they sent ten thousand (of the) strongest men, and commanded to them, Go ye, and smite the dwellers of Jabesh of Gilead by the sharpness of sword, as well the wives as the little children of them. (And so they sent twelve thousand of their strongest men, and commanded to them, Go ye, and strike down the people of Jabesh of Gilead with thy sharp swords, and their wives as well as their little children.)
11 And this thing shall be to you, that ye shall keep; slay ye all of male kind, and the women that have known men fleshly; reserve ye the virgins/but keep ye the maidens. (And this word shall be to you, that ye shall obey; kill ye all the males, and the women who have fleshly known men; but reserve ye the virgins/but keep ye the maidens.)
12 And four hundred virgins, that knew not the bed of (a) man, were found (among the people) of Jabesh of Gilead; and they brought them to the tents in Shiloh, into the land of Canaan.
13 And Israel sent messengers to the sons of Benjamin, that were in the stone of Rimmon; and they commanded to them, that they should receive those women in peace. (And then the Israelites sent messengers to the Benjaminites, who were at the Rock of Rimmon; and they agreed to make peace.)
14 And the sons of Benjamin came (back) in that time, and the daughters of Jabesh of Gilead were given to them to wives; for they found none other women, which they should give to them in like manner. (And then the Benjaminites came back, and the daughters of Jabesh of Gilead were given to them for wives; but they found no other women, whom they could give to them in like manner.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.