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Judges 21

25 verses

TL;DR

The Israelites, after a disastrous battle, face a crisis of marriage because they swore not to give Benjamin daughters; they resolve this by taking virgins from neighboring towns and marrying them to the Benjaminites.

Summary

After the battle against the Philistines, the Israelites were left with a problem: they had sworn not to give daughters to the tribe of Benjamin. They lamented that one tribe seemed to be lacking and vowed to find wives for Benjamin. The people decided to take virgins from Jabesh-Gilead, a town that had not come to the assembly, and to smite its inhabitants. After capturing the virgins, they sent them to Shiloh. Later, the Israelites planned to take daughters from the feast in Shiloh by waiting in vineyards to seize them when they danced. The Benjaminites then married the captured women and restored their tribe. The chapter ends with the people returning to their own tribes, each acting as they saw fit, and notes that there was no king at that time.

Outline
  1. 1. Oath against giving Benjamin daughters
  2. 2. Decision to take women from neighboring towns
  3. 3. Marriage of Benjaminites and restoration of tribe
Themes
Oath and its consequencesViolence and reconciliationRebuilding after loss
Keywords
oathBenjaminvirginswarmarriageRevengeReconciliation
People
IsraelBenjamin
Places
MizpehShilohBethelShechemLebonahJabesh-gilead
Things
oathaltarvirginsvineyardsdancewomen
Key Verses
  • Judges 21:1: Shows the original oath that creates the central conflict.
  • Judges 21:10-11: Describes the violent solution of smiting Jabesh-Gilead.
  • Judges 21:20-21: Illustrates the cunning plan to obtain wives from the Shiloh feast.
  • Judges 21:25: Concludes the chapter, noting the absence of centralized leadership.
Questions
  • What does the oath against giving Benjamin daughters reveal about Israelite social dynamics?
  • How does the chapter balance violence and compassion in addressing the crisis?
  • What is the significance of the absence of a king in this period?
  • How does the method of obtaining wives reflect the cultural norms of the time?
  • In what ways does the chapter portray the consequences of oath-making?
Sentiment

mixed
Includes lamentation, violent action, repentance, and restoration.