Judges 21

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 21 of 21

1 And the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, Not one of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin for a wife.

2 And the people came to Bethel, and sat there before God until the evening. And they lifted up their voices and wept a great weeping.

3 And they said, O Jehovah, God of Israel, Why has this happened in Israel, to be lacking one tribe today from Israel?

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Chapter Summary

The people bewail the desolation of Benjamin. 8 By the destruction of Jabesh-gilead they provide them four hundred wives. 16 They surprise the virgins that danced at Shiloh.

Key Hebrew Words

מִזְבֵּ֑חַ altar H4196 · TWOT 525b
נַ֣חֲלָתָ֔ possession H5159 · TWOT 1342a
חַג festival-gathering H2282 · TWOT 602a
פֶּ֖רֶץ bursting forth H6556 · TWOT 1826a
שָׁלֽוֹם completeness H7965 · TWOT 2401a

People & Context

Israel's Oath Not to Give Daughters to Benjamin

The men of Israel swear an oath in Mizpeh that no one will give his daughter to a Benjamite for a wife.

Israel Mourns the Near-Loss of a Tribe

The people gather at Bethel, weep bitterly over the potential extinction of the tribe of Benjamin, and build an altar for sacrifices.

Assembly Condemns Jabesh-gilead for Absence

Israel realizes Jabesh-gilead did not send anyone to the assembly at Mizpeh. Under a prior oath, anyone absent must be put to death.

Timeline

Israel's Oath Not to Give Daughters to Benjamin

The men of Israel swear an oath in Mizpeh that no one will give his daughter to a Benjamite for a wife.

Judges 21:1
Israel Mourns the Near-Loss of a Tribe

The people gather at Bethel, weep bitterly over the potential extinction of the tribe of Benjamin, and build an altar for sacrifices.

Judges 21:2-4
Assembly Condemns Jabesh-gilead for Absence

Israel realizes Jabesh-gilead did not send anyone to the assembly at Mizpeh. Under a prior oath, anyone absent must be put to death.

Judges 21:5-9

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Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.

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