Judges 19
Sodom and Gomorrah Revisited
1In those days Israel had no king. There was a Levite ▼▼Heb “a man, a Levite.”
living temporarily in the remote region of the Ephraimite hill country. He acquired a concubine ▼ from Bethlehem ▼ in Judah. 2However, she ▼
▼ Heb “and his concubine.” The pronoun (“she”) has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons.
got angry at him ▼▼ Or “was unfaithful to him.” Many have understood the Hebrew verb וַתִּזְנֶה (vattizneh) as being from זָנָה (zanah, “to be a prostitute”), but it may be derived from a root meaning “to be angry; to hate” attested in Akkadian (see HALOT 275 s.v. II זנה).
and went home ▼▼Heb “went from him.”
to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah. When she had been there four months, 3her husband came ▼▼Heb “arose and came.”
after her, hoping he could convince her to return. ▼▼Heb “to speak to her heart to bring her back.”
He brought with him his servant ▼▼ Or “young man.”
and a pair of donkeys. When she brought him into her father’s house and the girl’s father saw him, he greeted him warmly. ▼▼Heb “he was happy to meet him.”
4His father-in-law, the girl’s father, persuaded him to stay with him for three days, and they ate and drank together, and spent the night there. 5On the fourth day they woke up early and the Levite got ready to leave. ▼▼Heb “and he arose to go.”
But the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Have a bite to eat for some energy, ▼▼Heb “Sustain your heart [with] a bit of food.”
then you can go.” 6So the two of them sat down and had a meal together. ▼▼Heb “And they sat and ate, the two of them together, and they drank.”
Then the girl’s father said to the man, “Why not stay another night and have a good time!” ▼▼Heb “Be willing and spend the night so that your heart might be good.”
7When the man got ready to leave, ▼▼Heb “and the man arose to go.”
his father-in-law convinced him to stay another night. ▼▼Heb “his father-in-law persuaded him and he again spent the night there.”
8He woke up early in the morning on the fifth day so he could leave, but the girl’s father said, “Get some energy. ▼▼Heb “Sustain your heart.” He is once more inviting him to stay for a meal.
Wait until later in the day to leave!” ▼▼Heb “Wait until the declining of the day.”
So they ate a meal together. 9When the man got ready to leave ▼▼Heb “the man arose to go.”
with his concubine and his servant, ▼▼ Or “young man.”
his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Look! The day is almost over! ▼▼Heb “the day is sinking to become evening.”
Stay another night! Since the day is over, ▼▼ Or “declining.”
stay another night here and have a good time. You can get up early tomorrow and start your trip home.” ▼▼Heb “for your way and go to your tent.”
10But the man did not want to stay another night. He left ▼▼Heb “and he arose and went.”
and traveled as far as ▼▼Heb “to the front of.”
Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). ▼▼ For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; Journey of Paul map 1-F4; Journey of Paul map 2-F4; Journey of Paul map 3-F4; Journey of Paul map 4-F4.
He had with him a pair of saddled donkeys and his concubine. ▼
▼ Some ancient witnesses add “and his servant.”
11 When they got near Jebus, it was getting quite late ▼
▼Heb “and the day was descending greatly.”
and the servant ▼▼ Or “young man.”
said to his master, “Come on, let’s stop at ▼▼Heb “turn aside” (also in the following verse).
this Jebusite city and spend the night in it.” 12But his master said to him, “We should not stop at a foreign city where non-Israelites live. ▼▼Heb “who are not from the sons of Israel.”
We will travel on to Gibeah.” 13He said to his servant, ▼▼ Or “young man.”
“Come on, we will go into one of the other towns ▼▼Heb “we will enter one of the places.”
and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.” 14So they traveled on, ▼▼Heb “and they passed by and went.”
and the sun went down when they were near Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. ▼▼Heb “which belongs to Benjamin.”
15They stopped there and decided to spend the night ▼▼Heb “they turned aside there to enter to spend the night.”
in Gibeah. They came into the city and sat down in the town square, but no one invited them to spend the night. ▼▼Heb “and he entered and sat down, and there was no one receiving them into the house to spend the night.”
16 But then an old man passed by, returning at the end of the day from his work in the field. ▼
▼Heb “And look, an old man was coming from his work, from the field in the evening.”
The man was from the Ephraimite hill country; he was living temporarily in Gibeah. (The residents of the town were Benjaminites.) ▼▼Heb “And the men of the place were Benjaminites.”
17When he looked up and saw the traveler ▼▼Heb “the man, the traveler.”
in the town square, the old man said, “Where are you heading? Where do you come from?” 18The Levite ▼▼Heb “he”; the referent (the Levite) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
said to him, “We are traveling from Bethlehem ▼ in Judah to the remote region of the Ephraimite hill country. That’s where I’m from. I had business in Bethlehem in Judah, but now I’m heading home. ▼▼Heb “I went to Bethlehem in Judah, but [to] the house of the LORD I am going.” The Hebrew text has “house of the LORD,” which might refer to the shrine at Shiloh. The LXX reads “to my house.”
But no one has invited me into their home. 19We have enough straw and grain for our donkeys, and there is enough food and wine for me, your female servant, ▼▼ By calling his concubine the old man’s “female servant,” the Levite emphasizes their dependence on him for shelter.
and the young man who is with your servants. ▼▼ Some Hebrew mss and ancient witnesses read the singular, “your servant,” which would refer to the Levite. If one retains the plural, then both the Levite and his wife are in view. In either case the pronominal suffix emphasizes their dependence on the old man for shelter.
We lack nothing.” 20The old man said, “Everything is just fine! ▼▼Heb “Peace to you.”
I will take care of all your needs. But don’t spend the night in the town square.” 21So he brought him to his house and fed the donkeys. They washed their feet and had a meal. ▼▼Heb “ate and drank.”
22 They were having a good time, ▼
▼Heb “they were making their heart good.”
when suddenly ▼▼Heb “and look.”
some men of the city, some good-for-nothings, ▼▼Heb “the men of the city, men, the sons of wickedness.” The phrases are in apposition; the last phrase specifies what type of men they were. It is not certain if all the men of the city are in view, or just a group of troublemakers. In 20:5 the town leaders are implicated in the crime, suggesting that all the men of the city were involved. If so, the implication is that the entire male population of the town were good-for-nothings.
surrounded the house and kept beating ▼▼ The Hitpael verb form appears to have an iterative force here, indicating repeated action.
on the door. They said to the old man who owned the house, “Send out the man who came to visit you so we can have sex with him.” ▼▼Heb “so we can know him.” On the surface one might think they simply wanted to meet the visitor and get to know him, but their hostile actions betray their double-talk. The old man, who has been living with them long enough to know what they are like, seems to have no doubts about the meaning of their words (see v. 23).
23The man who owned the house went outside and said to them, “No, my brothers! Don’t do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Don’t do such a disgraceful thing! 24Here are my virgin daughter and my guest’s ▼▼Heb “his”; the referent (the visiting Levite) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
concubine. I will send them out and you can abuse them and do to them whatever you like. ▼▼Heb “what is good in your eyes.”
But don’t do such a disgraceful thing to this man!” 25The men refused to listen to him, so the Levite ▼▼Heb “he”; the referent (the Levite) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
grabbed his concubine and made her go outside. ▼▼Heb “and he caused [her] to go outside to them.”
They raped ▼▼Heb “knew,” in the sexual sense.
her and abused her all night long until morning. They let her go at dawn. 26The woman arrived back at daybreak and was sprawled out on the doorstep of the house where her master ▼▼ The Hebrew term here translated “master,” is plural. The plural indicates degree here and emphasizes the Levite’s absolute sovereignty over the woman.
was staying until it became light. ▼▼Heb “The woman came at the turning of the morning and fell at the door of the house of the man where her master was until the light.”
27When her master ▼▼ The Hebrew term here translated “master,” is plural. The plural indicates degree here and emphasizes the Levite’s absolute sovereignty over the woman.
got up in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and went outside to start on his journey, there was the woman, his concubine, sprawled out on the doorstep of the house with her hands on the threshold. 28He said to her, “Get up, let’s leave!” But there was no response. He put her on the donkey and went home. ▼▼Heb “And the man took her on the donkey and arose and went to his place.”
29When he got home, he took a knife, grabbed his concubine, and carved her up into twelve pieces. ▼▼Heb “he carved her up by her bones into twelve pieces.”
Then he sent the pieces throughout Israel. ▼▼Heb “and he sent her through all the territory of Israel.”
30Everyone who saw the sight ▼▼ The words “the sight” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
said, “Nothing like this has happened or been witnessed during the entire time since ▼▼Heb “from the day.”
the Israelites left the land of Egypt! ▼▼ Codex Alexandrinus (A) of the (original) LXX has the following additional words: “And he instructed the men whom he sent out, ‘Thus you will say to every male Israelite: “There has never been anything like this from the day the Israelites left Egypt till the present day.”’”
Take careful note of it! Discuss it and speak!” Judges 20
Civil War Breaks Out
1All the Israelites from Dan to Beer Sheba ▼▼ Dan was located in the far north of the country, while Beer Sheba was located in the far south. This encompassed all the territory of the land of Canaan occupied by the Israelites.
and from the land of Gilead ▼▼ The land of Gilead was on the eastern side of the Jordan River.
left their homes ▼▼Heb “went out.”
and assembled together ▼▼Heb “and the assembly was convened as one man.”
before the Lord at Mizpah. 2The leaders ▼▼Heb “the cornerstones”; or “the supports.” The word is used of leaders in only three other texts – 1 Sam 14:38; Isa 19:13; Zech 10:4.
of all the people from all the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, which numbered ▼▼ The words “which numbered” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
four hundred thousand sword-wielding foot soldiers. 3The Benjaminites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah. Then the Israelites said, “Explain how this wicked thing happened!” 4The Levite, ▼▼Heb “The man, the Levite.”
the husband of the murdered woman, spoke up, “I and my concubine stopped in ▼▼Heb “came to.”
Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin ▼▼Heb “which belongs to Benjamin.”
to spend the night. 5The leaders of Gibeah attacked me and at night surrounded the house where I was staying. ▼▼Heb “arose against me and surrounded against me the house at night.”
They wanted to kill me; instead they abused my concubine so badly that she died. 6I grabbed hold of my concubine and carved her up and sent the pieces ▼▼Heb “her”; the referent is more naturally stated in English as “the pieces.”
throughout the territory occupied by Israel, ▼▼Heb “throughout all the territory of the inheritance of Israel.”
because they committed such an unthinkable atrocity ▼▼Heb “a wicked and disgraceful [thing].”
in Israel. 7All you Israelites, ▼▼Heb “Look, all of you sons of Israel.”
make a decision here!” ▼▼Heb “give for yourselves a word and advice here.”
8 All Israel rose up in unison ▼
▼Heb “as one man.”
and said, “Not one of us will go home! ▼▼Heb “to his tent.”
Not one of us will return ▼▼ Or “turn aside.”
to his house! 9Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will attack the city as the lot dictates. ▼▼Heb “against her by lot.” The verb “we will go up” (נַעֲלֶה, na’aleh) has probably been accidentally omitted before “against her” (עָלֶיהָ, ’aleha).
▼ 10We will take ten of every group of a hundred men from all the tribes of Israel (and a hundred of every group of a thousand, and a thousand of every group of ten thousand) to get supplies for the army. ▼▼ Or “people.”
When they arrive in Gibeah of Benjamin they will punish them for the atrocity which they committed in Israel.” ▼▼Heb “to do at their arrival in Geba of Benjamin according to all the disgraceful [thing] which he [collective = “Benjamin”] did in Israel.” Here “Geba” must be an error for “Gibeah.”
11So all the men of Israel gathered together at the city as allies. ▼▼Heb “gathered at the city as one man, united.”
12 The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe ▼
▼ The MT reads the plural, but surely the singular (which is supported by the LXX and Vulgate) is preferable here.
of Benjamin, saying, “How could such a wicked thing take place? ▼▼Heb “What is this wicked thing which happened among you?”
13Now, hand over the good-for-nothings ▼▼Heb “the men, sons of wickedness.”
in Gibeah so we can execute them and purge Israel of wickedness.” ▼▼Heb “and burn away wickedness from Israel.”
But the Benjaminites refused to listen to their Israelite brothers. 14The Benjaminites came from their cities and assembled at Gibeah ▼▼Heb “assembled from the cities at Gibeah.”
to make war against the Israelites. 15That day the Benjaminites mustered from their cities twenty-six thousand sword-wielding soldiers, besides seven hundred well-trained soldiers from Gibeah. ▼▼Heb “besides from the ones living in Gibeah they mustered seven hundred choice men.”
16Among this army ▼▼Heb “And from all this people.”
were seven hundred specially-trained left-handed soldiers. ▼ Each one could sling a stone and hit even the smallest target. ▼▼ “at a single hair and not miss.”
17The men of Israel (not counting Benjamin) had mustered four hundred thousand sword-wielding soldiers, every one an experienced warrior. ▼▼Heb “a man of war.”
18 The Israelites went up to Bethel ▼ and asked God, ▼
▼Heb “They arose and went up to Bethel and asked God, and the Israelites said.”
“Who should lead the charge against the Benjaminites?” ▼▼Heb “Who should go up for us first for battle against the sons of Benjamin?”
The Lord said, “Judah should lead.” 19The Israelites got up the next morning and moved ▼▼Heb “encamped.”
against Gibeah. 20The men of Israel marched out to fight Benjamin; they ▼▼Heb “the men of Israel.” The noun phrase has been replaced by the pronoun (“they”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
arranged their battle lines against Gibeah. 21The Benjaminites attacked from Gibeah and struck down twenty-two thousand Israelites that day. ▼▼Heb “The sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and they struck down in Israel that day twenty-two thousand men to the ground.”
22 The Israelite army ▼
▼Heb “The people, the men of Israel.”
took heart ▼▼ Or “encouraged one another.”
and once more arranged their battle lines, in the same place where they had taken their positions the day before. 23The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until evening. They asked the Lord, “Should we ▼▼Heb “I” (collective singular).
again march out to fight ▼▼Heb “approach for battle.”
the Benjaminites, our brothers?” ▼▼Heb “my brother” (collective singular).
The Lord said, “Attack them!” ▼▼Heb “Go up against him” (collective singular).
24So the Israelites marched toward ▼▼Heb “drew near to.”
the Benjaminites the next day. 25The Benjaminites again attacked them from Gibeah and struck down eighteen thousand sword-wielding Israelite soldiers. ▼▼Heb “And Benjamin went out to meet them from Gibeah the second day, and they struck down among the sons of Israel eighteen thousand men to the ground, all of these were wielding the sword.”
26 So all the Israelites, the whole army, ▼
▼Heb “and all the people.”
went up to ▼▼Heb “went up and came [to].”
Bethel. ▼ They wept and sat there before the Lord; they did not eat anything ▼▼ Traditionally, “fasted.”
that day until evening. They offered up burnt sacrifices and tokens of peace ▼▼ Or “peace offerings.”
to the Lord. 27The Israelites asked the Lord (for the ark of God’s covenant was there in those days; 28Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, was serving the Lord ▼▼Heb “standing before him.”
in those days), “Should we ▼▼Heb “I” (collective singular).
once more march out to fight the Benjaminites our brothers, ▼▼Heb “my brother” (collective singular).
or should we ▼▼Heb “I” (collective singular).
quit?” The Lord said, “Attack, for tomorrow I will hand them ▼▼Heb “him” (collective singular).
over to you.” 29 So Israel hid men in ambush outside Gibeah. 30The Israelites attacked the Benjaminites the next day; ▼
▼Heb “the third day.”
they took their positions against Gibeah just as they had done before. 31The Benjaminites attacked ▼▼Heb “went out to meet.”
the army, leaving the city unguarded. ▼▼Heb “and they were drawn away from the city.”
They began to strike down their enemy ▼▼Heb “from the army wounded ones.”
just as they had done before. On the main roads (one leads to Bethel, ▼ the other to Gibeah) and in the field, they struck down ▼▼ The words “they struck down” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
about thirty Israelites. 32Then the Benjaminites said, “They are defeated just as before.” But the Israelites said, “Let’s retreat ▼▼ Or “run away.”
and lure them ▼▼Heb “him” (collective singular).
away from the city into the main roads.” 33 ▼ All the men of Israel got up from their places and took their positions at Baal Tamar, while the Israelites hiding in ambush jumped out of their places west of Gibeah. 34Ten thousand men, well-trained soldiers from all Israel, then made a frontal assault against Gibeah – the battle was fierce. ▼▼Heb “heavy”; or “severe.”
But the Benjaminites did not realize that disaster was at their doorstep. ▼▼Heb “And they did not know that touching against them was disaster.”
35The Lord annihilated Benjamin before Israel; the Israelites struck down that day 25,100 sword-wielding Benjaminites. ▼▼Heb “And the sons of Israel struck down in Benjamin that day 25,100 men, all of these wielding the sword.”
36Then the Benjaminites saw they were defeated. The Israelites retreated before ▼
▼Heb “gave place to.”
Benjamin, because they had confidence in the men they had hid in ambush outside Gibeah. 37The men hiding in ambush made a mad dash ▼▼Heb “hurried and put off [their hiding place].”
to Gibeah. They ▼▼Heb “the men hiding in ambush.”
attacked ▼▼ Or “deployed.” The verb normally means “to lead” or “to draw.”
and put the sword to the entire city. 38The Israelites and the men hiding in ambush had arranged a signal. When the men hiding in ambush ▼▼Heb “they”; the referent (the men hiding in ambush) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
sent up a smoke signal from the city, 39the Israelites counterattacked. ▼▼Heb “turned in the battle.”
Benjamin had begun to strike down the Israelites; ▼▼Heb “And Benjamin began to strike down wounded ones among the men of Israel.”
they struck down ▼▼ The words “they struck down” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
about thirty men. They said, “There’s no doubt about it! They are totally defeated as in the earlier battle.” 40But when the signal, a pillar of smoke, began to rise up from the city, the Benjaminites turned around and saw the whole city going up in a cloud of smoke that rose high into the sky. ▼▼Heb “Benjamin turned after him and, look, the whole city went up toward the sky.”
41When the Israelites turned around, the Benjaminites panicked ▼▼ Or “were terrified.”
because they could see that disaster was on their doorstep. ▼▼Heb “disaster touched against them.”
42They retreated before the Israelites, taking the road to the wilderness. But the battle overtook ▼▼Heb “clung to”; or “stuck close.”
them as men from the surrounding cities struck them down. ▼▼Heb “and those from the cities were striking them down in their midst.”
43They surrounded the Benjaminites, chased them from Nohah, ▼ and annihilated ▼▼Heb “tread down, walk on.”
them all the way to a spot east of Geba. ▼ 44Eighteen thousand Benjaminites, all of them capable warriors, fell dead. 45The rest ▼▼ Heb “they”; the referent (the rest [of the Benjaminites]) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
turned and ran toward the wilderness, heading toward the cliff of Rimmon. But the Israelites ▼▼ Heb “and they”; the referent (the Israelites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
caught ▼▼ Heb “gleaned.” The word is an agricultural term which pictures Israelites picking off the Benjaminites as easily as one picks grapes from the vine.
five thousand of them on the main roads. They stayed right on their heels ▼▼Heb “stuck close after them.”
all the way to Gidom and struck down two thousand more. 46That day twenty-five thousand ▼▼ The number given here (twenty-five thousand sword-wielding Benjaminites) is an approximate figure; v. 35 gives the more exact number (25,100). According to v. 15, the Benjaminite army numbered 26,700 (26,000 + 700). The figures in vv. 35 (rounded in vv. 44–46) and 47 add up to 25,700. What happened to the other 1,000 men? The most reasonable explanation is that they were killed during the first two days of fighting. G. F. Moore (Judges [ICC], 429) and C. F. Burney (Judges, 475) reject this proposal, arguing that the narrator is too precise and concerned about details to omit such a fact. However, the account of the first two days’ fighting emphasizes Israel’s humiliating defeat. To speak of Benjaminite casualties would diminish the literary effect. In vv. 35, 44–47 the narrator’s emphasis is the devastating defeat that Benjamin experienced on this final day of battle. To mention the earlier days’ casualties at this point is irrelevant to his literary purpose. He allows readers who happen to be concerned with such details to draw conclusions for themselves.
sword-wielding Benjaminites fell in battle, all of them capable warriors. ▼▼Heb “So all the ones who fell from Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men, wielding the sword, in that day, all of these men of strength.
47Six hundred survivors turned and ran away to the wilderness, to the cliff of Rimmon. They stayed there four months. 48The Israelites returned to the Benjaminite towns ▼▼Heb “to the sons of Benjamin.”
and put the sword to them. They wiped out the cities, ▼▼ The translation is based on the reading מֵעִיר מְתִים (me’ir metim, “from a city of men,” i.e., “an inhabited city”), rather than the reading מֵעִיר מְתֹם (me’ir metom, “from a city of soundness”) found in the Leningrad Codex (L).
the animals, and everything they could find. They set fire to every city in their path. ▼▼Heb “Also all the cities that were found they set on fire.”
Judges 21
600 Brides for 600 Brothers
1The Israelites had taken an oath in Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will allow his daughter to marry a Benjaminite.” 2So the people came to Bethel ▼ and sat there before God until evening, weeping loudly and uncontrollably. ▼▼Heb “and they lifted up their voice[s] and wept with great weeping.” Both the cognate accusative בְּכִי (bekhi, “weeping”) and the attributive adjective גָדוֹל (gadol, “great”) emphasize their degree of sorrow.
3They said, “Why, O Lord God of Israel, has this happened in Israel?” An entire ▼▼Heb “one.”
tribe has disappeared from Israel today!” 4 The next morning the people got up early and built an altar there. They offered up burnt sacrifices and token of peace. ▼
▼ Or “peace offerings.”
5The Israelites asked, “Who from all the Israelite tribes has not assembled before the Lord?” They had made a solemn oath that whoever did not assemble before the Lord at Mizpah must certainly be executed. ▼▼Heb “A great oath there was concerning the one who did not go up before the Lord at Mizpah, saying, ‘He must surely be put to death.’”
6The Israelites regretted what had happened to ▼▼ Or “felt sorry for.”
their brother Benjamin. They said, “Today we cut off an entire ▼▼Heb “cut off one.”
tribe from Israel! 7How can we find wives for those who are left? ▼▼Heb “What should we do for them, for the remaining ones, concerning wives?”
After all, we took an oath in the Lord’s name not to give them our daughters as wives.” 8So they asked, “Who from all the Israelite tribes did not assemble before the Lord at Mizpah?” Now it just so happened no one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the gathering. ▼▼Heb “Look, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh Gilead to the assembly.”
9When they took roll call, ▼▼ Or “when the people were mustered.”
they noticed ▼▼Heb “and look.”
none of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead were there. 10So the assembly sent 12,000 capable warriors ▼▼Heb “men, sons of strength.”
against Jabesh Gilead. ▼▼Heb “there.”
They commanded them, “Go and kill with your swords ▼▼Heb “the edge of the sword.”
the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead, including the women and little children. 11Do this: ▼▼ Heb “And this is the thing that you will do.”
exterminate every male, as well as every woman who has had sexual relations with a male. ▼▼Heb “every woman who is familiar with the bed of a male.”
But spare the lives of any virgins.” So they did as instructed. ▼▼ Some Greek witnesses (notably Codex Vaticanus [B]) add the words, “‘But the virgins you should keep alive.’ And they did so.” These additional words, which probably represent the original Hebrew text, can be retroverted: וְאֶת־הַבְּתוּלוֹת תְּחַיּוּ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן (ve’et-habbetulot tekhayyu vayya’asu khen). It is likely that a scribe’s eye jumped from the vav (ו) on וְאֶת (ve’et) to the initial vav of v. 11, accidentally leaving out the intervening letters. The present translation is based on this reconstruction.
12They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundred young girls who were virgins – they had never had sexual relations with a male. ▼▼Heb “who had not known a man with respect to the bed of a male.”
They brought them back to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. 13 The entire assembly sent messengers to the Benjaminites at the cliff of Rimmon and assured them they would not be harmed. ▼
▼Heb “And all the assembly sent and spoke to the sons of Benjamin who were at the cliff of Rimmon and they proclaimed to them peace.”
14The Benjaminites returned at that time, and the Israelites ▼▼Heb “they”; the referent (the Israelites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
gave to them the women they had spared from Jabesh Gilead. But there were not enough to go around. ▼▼Heb “but they did not find for them enough.”
15 The people regretted what had happened to ▼
▼ Or “felt sorry for.”
Benjamin because the Lord had weakened ▼▼Heb “had made a gaping hole in.” The narrator uses imagery that compares Israel to a wall that has been breached.
the Israelite tribes. 16The leaders ▼▼ Or “elders.”
of the assembly said, “How can we find wives for those who are left? ▼▼Heb “What should we do for the remaining ones concerning wives?”
After all, the Benjaminite women have been wiped out. 17The ▼ remnant of Benjamin must be preserved. An entire Israelite tribe should not be wiped out. ▼▼Heb “An inheritance for the remnant belonging to Benjamin, and a tribe from Israel will not be wiped away.” The first statement lacks a verb. Some prefer to emend the text to read, “How can an inheritance remain for the remnant of Benjamin?”
18But we can’t allow our daughters to marry them, ▼▼Heb “But we are not able to give to them wives from our daughters.”
for the Israelites took an oath, saying, ‘Whoever gives a woman to a Benjaminite will be destroyed!’ ▼▼Heb “is cursed.”
19However, there is an annual festival to the Lord in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel ▼ (east of the main road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem) and south of Lebonah.” 20So they commanded the Benjaminites, “Go hide in the vineyards, 21and keep your eyes open. ▼▼Heb “and look.”
When you see ▼▼Heb “and look, when.”
the daughters of Shiloh coming out to dance in the celebration, ▼▼Heb “in the dances.”
jump out from the vineyards. Each one of you, catch yourself a wife from among the daughters of Shiloh and then go home to the land of Benjamin. 22When their fathers or brothers come and protest to us, ▼▼ The (original) LXX and Vulgate read “to you.”
we’ll say to them, “Do us a favor and let them be, ▼▼ The words “and let them be” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
for we could not get each one a wife through battle. ▼▼Heb “for we did not take each his wife in battle.”
▼▼ Through battle. This probably refers to the battle against Jabesh Gilead, which only produced four hundred of the six hundred wives needed.
Don’t worry about breaking your oath! ▼▼ This sentence is not in the Hebrew text. It is supplied in the translation to clarify the logic of the statement.
You would only be guilty if you had voluntarily given them wives.’” ▼▼Heb “You did not give to them, now you are guilty.” The MT as it stands makes little sense. It is preferable to emend לֹא (lo’, “not”) to לוּא (lu’, “if”). This particle introduces a purely hypothetical condition, “If you had given to them [but you didn’t].” See G. F. Moore, Judges (ICC), 453–54.
23 The Benjaminites did as instructed. ▼
▼Heb “did so.”
They abducted two hundred of the dancing girls to be their wives. ▼▼Heb “And they took wives according to their number from the dancing girls whom they abducted.”
They went home ▼▼ Heb “went and returned.”
to their own territory, ▼▼Heb “inheritance.”
rebuilt their cities, and settled down. ▼▼Heb “and lived in them.”
24Then the Israelites dispersed from there to their respective tribal and clan territories. Each went from there to his own property. ▼▼ Heb “his inheritance.”
25In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right. ▼▼Heb “Each was doing what was right in his [own] eyes.”
▼▼ Each man did what he considered to be right. The Book of Judges closes with this note, which summarizes the situation of the Israelite tribes during this period.
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