Shophetim (Judges) 21
21
1And the men of Yisra’ĕl had sworn an oath at Mitspah, saying, “Not one of us shall give his daughter to Binyamin as a wife.”
2So the people came to Bĕyth Ěl, and sat there until evening before Elohim, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly,
3and said, “O יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, why has this come about in Yisra’ĕl, that today there should be one tribe missing in Yisra’ĕl?”
4And it came to be on the morrow, that the people rose early and built a slaughter-place there, and brought ascending offerings and peace offerings.
5And the children of Yisra’ĕl said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Yisra’ĕl who did not come up with the assembly to יהוה?” For they had made a great oath concerning anyone who had not come up to יהוה at Mitspah, saying, “He shall certainly be put to death.”
6And the children of Yisra’ĕl were sorry for Binyamin their brother, and said, “One tribe is cut off from Yisra’ĕl today.
7“What do we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by יהוה not to give them our daughters as wives?”
8And they said, “Which one of the tribes of Yisra’ĕl did not come up to Mitspah to יהוה?” And see, no one had come to the camp from Yaḇĕsh Gil‛aḏ to the assembly.
9For when the people called a roll, see, not one of the inhabitants of Yaḇĕsh Gil‛aḏ was there.
10And the congregation sent out there twelve thousand of their bravest men, and commanded them, saying, “Go, and you shall strike the inhabitants of Yaḇĕsh Gil‛aḏ with the edge of the sword, even the women and children.
11“And this is what you do: Put under the ban every male, and every woman who has known a man by lying with him.”
12And they found among the inhabitants of Yaḇĕsh Gil‛aḏ four hundred young maidens who had not known a man. And they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Kena‛an.
13Then all the congregation sent, and spoke to the children of Binyamin who were at the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them.
14And Binyamin turned back at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Yaḇĕsh Gil‛aḏ. But even so there were not enough for them.
15And the people were sorry for Binyamin, because יהוה had made a breach in the tribes of Yisra’ĕl.
16And the elders of the congregation said, “What do we do for wives for those who remain, since the women have been destroyed out of Binyamin?”
17And they said, “There is an inheritance for the survivors of Binyamin, and no tribe is to be destroyed from Yisra’ĕl.
18“But we are unable to give them wives from our daughters, for the children of Yisra’ĕl have sworn an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the one who gives a wife to Binyamin.’ ”
19So they said, “See, there is a yearly festival of יהוה in Shiloh, which is north of Bĕyth Ěl, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bĕyth Ěl to Sheḵem, and south of Leḇonah.”
20And they commanded the children of Binyamin, saying, “Go, lie in wait in the vineyards,
21“and watch. And see, when the daughters of Shiloh come out to perform their dances, then you shall come out from the vineyards, and every man catch a wife for himself from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Binyamin.
22“And it shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to us to complain, that we shall say to them, ‘Favour us with them, because we did not take a wife for any of them in battle, neither have you given them to them, making yourselves guilty of your oath.’ ”
23And the children of Binyamin did so, and took enough wives for their number from those who danced, whom they caught. Then they went and returned to their inheritance, and they rebuilt the cities and dwelt in them.
24And the children of Yisra’ĕl went from there at that time, each one to his tribe and clan. And they went from there, each one to his inheritance.
25In those days there was no sovereign in Yisra’ĕl – everyone did what was right in his own eyes.#See Jdg. 17:6 and Deu. 12:8
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Shophetim (Judges) 21: TS2009
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Judges 21
21
1Now the children of Israel had also sworn in Maspha, saying: None of us shall give of his daughters to the children of Benjamin to wife.
2And they all came to the house of God in Silo: and abiding before him till the evening lifted up their voices, and began to lament and weep, saying:
3O Lord God of Israel, why is so great an evil come to pass in thy people, that this day one tribe should be taken away from among us?
4And rising early the next day, they built an altar: and offered there holocausts, and victims of peace. And they said:
5Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the army of the Lord? For they had bound themselves with a great oath, when they were in Maspha, that whosoever were wanting should be slain.
6And the children of Israel, being moved with repentance for their brother Benjamin, began to say: One tribe is taken away from Israel.
7Whence shall they take wives? For we have all in general sworn not to give our daughters to them.
8Therefore they said: Who is thereof all the tribes of Israel, that came not up to the Lord to Maspha? And, behold, the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad were found not to have been in that army.
9(At that time also when they were in Silo, no one of them was found there.)
10So they sent ten thousand of the most valiant men, and commanded them, saying: Go and put the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad to the sword, with their wives and their children.
11And this is what you shall observe: Every male, and all women that have known men, you shall kill, but the virgins you shall save.
12And there were found of Jabes Galaad four hundred virgins, that had not known the bed of a man: and they brought them to the camp Silo, into the land of Chanaan.
13And they sent messengers to the children of Benjamin, that were in the rock Remmon, and commanded them to receive them in peace.
14And the children of Benjamin came at that time, and wives were given them of the daughters of Jabes Galaad: but they found no others, whom they might give in like manner.
15And all Israel was very sorry, and repented for the destroying of one tribe out of Israel.
16And the ancients said: What shall we do with the rest, that have not received wives? for all the women in Benjamin are dead.
17And we must use all care, and provide with great diligence, that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
18For as to our own daughters we cannot give them, being bound with an oath and a curse, whereby we said: Cursed be he that shall give Benjamin any of his daughters to wife.
19So they took counsel, and said: Behold, there is a yearly solemnity of the Lord in Silo, which is situate on the north of the city of Bethel, and on the east side of the way, that goeth from Bethel to Sichem, and on the south of the town of Lebona.
20And they commanded the children of Benjamin, and said: Go, and lie hid in the vineyards,
21And when you shall see the daughters of Silo come out, as the custom is, to dance, come ye on a sudden out of the vineyards; and catch you every man his wife among them: and go into the land of Benjamin.
22And when their fathers and their brethren shall come, and shall begin to complain against you, and to chide, we will say to them: Have pity on them: for they took them not away as by the right of war or conquest, but when they asked to have them, you gave them not, and the fault was committed on your part.
23And the children of Benjamin did, as they had been commanded: and according to their number, they carried off for themselves every man his wife of them that were dancing. And they went into their possession and built up their cities, and dwelt in them.
24The children of Israel also returned by their tribes, and families, to their dwellings. In those days there was no king in Israel: but every one did that which seemed right to himself.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.