Berean Standard Bible

Judges 21

1Now the menוְאִ֣ישׁve.'IshH376of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478had sworn an oathנִשְׁבַּ֥עnish.Ba'H7650at Mizpahבַּמִּצְפָּ֖הba.mitz.PahH4709,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, “Not oneאִ֣ישׁ לֹא־'ish lo'-H376 H3808of usמִמֶּ֔נּוּmi.Me.nuH4480will give his daughterבִּתּ֛וֹbi.ToH1323in marriageיִתֵּ֥ןyi.TenH5414to a Benjamiteלְבִנְיָמִ֖ן לְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.vin.ya.Min le.'i.ShahH1144 H802.”

2So the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971cameוַיָּבֹ֤אvai.ya.Vo'H935to BethelH1008and satוַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּvai.Ye.she.vuH3427thereשָׁם֙shamH8033beforeלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430untilעַד־'ad-H5704eveningהָעֶ֔רֶבha.'E.revH6153,lifting upוַיִּשְׂא֣וּvai.yis.'UH5375their voicesקוֹלָ֔םko.LamH6963and weepingוַיִּבְכּ֖וּ בְּכִ֥יvai.yiv.Ku be.KhiH1058 H1065bitterlyגָדֽוֹל׃ga.DolH1419.

3“Whyלָמָ֗הla.MahH4100,O LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,”they cried outוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, “has thisזֹּ֖אתzotH2063happenedהָ֥יְתָהHa.ye.tahH1961in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478?Todayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117in Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478oneאֶחָֽד׃'e.ChadH259tribeשֵׁ֥בֶטShe.vetH7626is missingלְהִפָּקֵ֥דle.hi.pa.KedH6485!”

4וַֽיְהִי֙vay.HiH1961The next dayמִֽמָּחֳרָ֔תmi.mo.cho.RatH4283the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971got up earlyוַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּvai.yash.Ki.muH7925,builtוַיִּבְנוּ־vai.yiv.nu-H1129an altarמִזְבֵּ֑חַmiz.Be.achH4196thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033,and presentedוַיַּעֲל֥וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927burnt offeringsעֹל֖וֹתo.LotH5930and peace offeringsוּשְׁלָמִֽים׃ פu.she.la.MimH8002.

5The Israelitesבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Nei Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478askedוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559, “Whoמִ֠יmiH4310אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834among allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605the tribesשִׁבְטֵ֥יshiv.TeiH7626of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478did notלֹא־lo'-H3808comeעָלָ֧ה'a.LahH5927to the assemblyבַקָּהָ֛לva.ka.HalH6951beforeאֶל־'el-H413the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068?”Forכִּי֩kiH3588they had takenהָיְתָ֗הha.ye.TahH1961a solemnהַגְּדוֹלָ֜הha.ge.do.LahH1419oathהַשְּׁבוּעָ֨הha.she.vu.'AhH7621that anyoneלַ֠אֲשֶׁרLa.'a.SherH834who failedלֹא־lo'-H3808to come upעָלָ֨ה'a.LahH5927beforeאֶל־'el-H413the LORDיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068at Mizpahהַמִּצְפָּ֛ה לֵאמֹ֖רha.mitz.Pah le.MorH4709 H559would surely be put to deathH4191.

6And the Israelitesבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Nei Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478grievedוַיִּנָּֽחֲמוּ֙vai.yi.na.cha.MuH5162forאֶל־'el-H413their brothersאָחִ֑יו'a.ChivH251,the Benjamitesבִּנְיָמִ֖ןbin.ya.MinH1144,and saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, “Todayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117aאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259tribeשֵׁ֥בֶטShe.vetH7626is cut offנִגְדַּ֥עnig.Da'H1438from Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃mi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

7Whatמַה־mah-H4100should we doנַּעֲשֶׂ֥הna.'a.SehH6213about wivesלְנָשִׁ֑יםle.na.ShimH802for the survivorsלַנּוֹתָרִ֖יםla.no.ta.RimH3498,since weוַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙va.'a.Nach.nuH587have swornנִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּnish.Ba'.nuH7650by the LORDבַֽיהוָ֔הba.Yah.wehH3068notלְבִלְתִּ֛יle.vil.TiH1115to giveתֵּת־tet-H5414themour daughtersמִבְּנוֹתֵ֖ינוּmi.be.no.Tei.nuH1323in marriageלְנָשִֽׁים׃le.na.ShimH802?”

8So they askedוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, “Whichמִ֗יMiH4310oneאֶחָד֙'e.ChadH259of the tribesמִשִּׁבְטֵ֣יmi.shiv.TeiH7626of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478אֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherH834failedלֹֽא־lo'-H3808to come upעָלָ֥ה'a.LahH5927beforeאֶל־'el-H413the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068at Mizpahהַמִּצְפָּ֑הha.mitz.PahH4709?”And, in factוְ֠הִנֵּהVe.hi.nehH2009,no oneלֹ֣א אִ֧ישׁlo' 'ishH3808 H376from Jabesh-gileadמִיָּבֵ֥ישׁ גִּלְעָ֖דmi.ya.Veish gil.'AdH3003 H1568אֶל־'el-H413had comeבָא־va'-H935toאֶל־'el-H413the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛הha.ma.cha.NehH4264for the assemblyהַקָּהָֽל׃ha.ka.HalH6951.

9For when the peopleהָעָ֑ם וְהִנֵּ֤הha.'Am ve.hi.NehH5971 H2009were countedוַיִּתְפָּקֵ֖דvai.yit.pa.KedH6485,noneאֵֽין־ אִ֔ישׁ'ein- 'IshH369 H376of the residentsמִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֖יmi.yo.she.VeiH3427of Jabesh-gileadיָבֵ֥שׁ גִּלְעָֽד׃ya.Vesh gil.'AdH3003 H1568were thereשָׁם֙shamH8033.

10So the congregationהָעֵדָ֗הha.'e.DahH5712sentוַיִּשְׁלְחוּ־vai.yish.le.chu-H797112,000שְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֛לֶףshe.neim- 'a.Sar 'E.lefH8147 H6240 H505ofמִבְּנֵ֣יmi.be.NeiH1121their most valiantהֶחָ֑יִלhe.Cha.yilH2428menאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376שָׁ֣םshamH8033and commanded themוַיְצַוּ֨וּvay.tza.VuH6680אוֹתָ֜ם'o.TamH853לֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559: “Goלְ֠כוּLe.khuH1980and putוְהִכִּיתֶ֞םve.hi.ki.TemH5221אֶת־'et-H853to the swordלְפִי־ חֶ֔רֶבle.fi- Che.revH6310 H2719those livingיוֹשְׁבֵ֨יyo.she.VeiH3427in Jabesh-gileadיָבֵ֤שׁ גִּלְעָד֙ya.Vesh gil.'AdH3003 H1568,including womenוְהַנָּשִׁ֖יםve.ha.na.ShimH802and childrenוְהַטָּֽף׃ve.ha.TafH2945.

11Thisוְזֶ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖רve.Zeh ha.da.VarH2088 H1697is whatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you are to doתַּעֲשׂ֑וּta.'a.SuH6213:Devote to destructionתַּחֲרִֽימוּ׃ta.cha.Ri.muH2763everyכָּל־kol-H3605maleזָכָ֗רza.KharH2145,as well as everyוְכָל־ve.kholH3605femaleאִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802who has had relations withיֹדַ֥עַת מִשְׁכַּב־yo.Da.'at mish.kav-H3045 H4904a manזָכָ֖רza.KharH2145.”

12So they foundוַֽיִּמְצְא֞וּvai.yim.tze.'UH4672among the inhabitantsמִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֣י׀mi.yo.she.VeiH3427of Jabesh-gileadיָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֗דya.Veish gil.'AdH3003 H1568fourאַרְבַּ֤ע'ar.Ba'H702hundredמֵאוֹת֙me.'OtH3967youngנַעֲרָ֣הna.'a.RahH5291womenבְתוּלָ֔הve.tu.LahH1330whoאֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.SherH834had notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808had relations withיָדְעָ֛ה אִ֖ישׁ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣בya.de.'Ah 'ish le.mish.KavH3045 H376 H4904a manזָכָ֑רza.KharH2145,and they broughtוַיָּבִ֨יאוּvai.ya.Vi.'uH935themאוֹתָ֤ם'o.TamH853toאֶל־'el-H413the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ha.ma.cha.NehH4264at Shilohשִׁלֹ֔הshi.LohH7887אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834in the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנָֽעַן׃ סke.Na.'anH3667.

13Then the wholeכָּל־kol-H3605congregationהָ֣עֵדָ֔הha.'e.DahH5712sentוַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙vai.yish.le.ChuH7971a messageוַֽיְדַבְּרוּ֙ וַיִּקְרְא֥וּvay.da.be.Ru vai.yik.re.'UH1696 H7121of peaceשָׁלֽוֹם׃sha.LomH7965toאֶל־'el-H413the Benjamitesבְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ןbe.Nei vin.ya.MinH1121 H1144whoאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834were at the rockבְּסֶ֣לַעbe.Se.la'H5553of Rimmonרִמּ֑וֹןri.MonH7417.

14And at thatהַהִ֔יאha.Hi'H1931timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256the Benjamitesבִּנְיָמִן֙bin.ya.MinH1144returnedוַיָּ֤שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725and were givenוַיִּתְּנ֤וּvai.yi.te.NuH5414the womenהַנָּשִׁ֔יםha.na.ShimH802אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834who were sparedחִיּ֔וּ מִנְּשֵׁ֖יchi.Yu mi.ne.SheiH2421 H802from Jabesh-gileadיָבֵ֣שׁ גִּלְעָ֑דya.Vesh gil.'AdH3003 H1568.But there were notוְלֹֽא־ מָצְא֥וּve.lo'- ma.tze.'UH3808 H4672enoughכֵּֽן׃KenH3651women for all of them.

15The peopleוְהָעָ֥םve.ha.'AmH5971grievedנִחָ֖םni.ChamH5162for Benjaminלְבִנְיָמִ֑ןle.vin.ya.MinH1144,becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068had madeעָשָׂ֧ה'a.SahH6213a voidפֶּ֖רֶץPe.retzH6556in the tribesבְּשִׁבְטֵ֥יbe.shiv.TeiH7626of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

16Then the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of the congregationהָעֵדָ֔הha.'e.DahH5712saidוַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100should we doנַּעֲשֶׂ֥הna.'a.SehH6213about wivesלְנָשִׁ֑יםle.na.ShimH802for those who remainלַנּוֹתָרִ֖יםla.no.ta.RimH3498,sinceכִּֽי־ki-H3588the womenאִשָּֽׁה׃'i.ShahH802of Benjaminמִבִּנְיָמִ֖ןmi.bin.ya.MinH1144have been destroyedנִשְׁמְדָ֥הnish.me.DahH8045?”

17They addedוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, “There must be heirsיְרֻשַּׁ֥תye.ru.ShatH3425for the survivorsפְּלֵיטָ֖הpe.lei.TahH6413of Benjaminלְבִנְיָמִ֑ןle.vin.ya.MinH1144,so that a tribeשֵׁ֖בֶטShe.vetH7626of Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃mi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478will notוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808be wiped outיִמָּחֶ֥הyi.ma.ChehH4229.

18But weוַאֲנַ֗חְנוּva.'a.Nach.nuH587cannotלֹ֥א נוּכַ֛לlo' nu.KhalH3808 H3201giveלָתֵת־la.tet-H5414themour daughtersמִבְּנוֹתֵ֑ינוּmi.be.no.Tei.nuH1323as wivesנָשִׁ֖יםna.ShimH802.”Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588the Israelitesבְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔רve.nei- Yis.ra.'El le.MorH1121 H3478 H559had swornנִשְׁבְּע֤וּnish.be.'UH7650, “Cursed isאָר֕וּר'a.RurH779he who givesנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414a wifeאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802to a Benjamiteלְבִנְיָמִֽן׃ סle.vin.ya.MinH1144.”

19“But lookהִנֵּה֩hi.NehH2009,”they saidוַיֹּאמְר֡וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “there is a yearlyH3117feastחַג־chag-H2282to the LORDיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068in Shilohבְּשִׁל֜וֹbe.shi.LoH7887,whichאֲשֶׁ֞ר'a.SherH834isnorthמִצְּפ֤וֹנָהmi.tze.Fo.nahH6828of BethelH1008eastמִזְרְחָ֣ה הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁmiz.re.Chah ha.She.meshH4217 H8121of the roadלִמְסִלָּ֔הlim.si.LahH4546that goes upהָעֹלָ֥הha.'o.LahH5927fromH1008BethelH1008to Shechemשְׁכֶ֑מָהshe.Khe.mahH7927,and southוּמִנֶּ֖גֶבu.mi.Ne.gevH5045of Lebonahלִלְבוֹנָֽה׃lil.vo.NahH3829.”

20So they commandedוַיְצַוּ֕וּvay.tzavH6680אֶת־'et-H853the Benjamitesבְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑רbe.Nei vin.ya.Min le.MorH1121 H1144 H559: “Goלְכ֖וּle.KhuH1980,hideוַאֲרַבְתֶּ֥םva.'a.rav.TemH693in the vineyardsבַּכְּרָמִֽים׃ba.ke.ra.MimH3754

21and watchוּרְאִיתֶ֗םu.re.'i.TemH7200.Whenאִם־'im-H518you seeוְ֠הִנֵּהVe.hi.nehH2009the daughtersבְנוֹת־ve.not-H1323of Shilohשִׁילוֹ֮shi.LoH7887come outיֵ֨צְא֥וּye.tze.'UH3318to performלָח֣וּלla.ChulH2342their dancesבַּמְּחֹלוֹת֒ba.me.cho.lOtH4246,each of youאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376is to come outוִֽיצָאתֶם֙vi.tza.TemH3318of the vineyardsהַכְּרָמִ֔יםha.ke.ra.MimH3754,catchוַחֲטַפְתֶּ֥םva.cha.taf.TemH2414for himselfa wifeאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.ToH802fromמִן־min-H4480the daughtersמִבְּנ֣וֹתmi.be.NotH1323of Shilohשִׁיל֑וֹshi.LoH7887,and goוַהֲלַכְתֶּ֖םva.ha.lakh.TemH1980to the landאֶ֥רֶץ'E.retzH776of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִֽן׃bin.ya.MinH1144.

22וְהָיָ֡הve.ha.YahH1961Whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588their fathersאֲבוֹתָם֩'a.vo.TamH1orא֨וֹ'oH176brothersאֲחֵיהֶ֜ם'a.chei.HemH251comeיָבֹ֣אוּya.Vo.'uH935to usאֵלֵ֗ינוּ'e.Lei.nuH413to complainלָרִ֣יבla.rovH7378,we will tell themוְאָמַ֤רְנוּ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ve.'a.Mar.nu 'a.lei.HemH559 H413, ‘Do us a favorחָנּ֣וּנוּcha.Nu.nuH2603by helping themאוֹתָ֔ם'o.TamH853,sinceכִּ֣יkiH3588we did notלֹ֥אlo'H3808getלָקַ֛חְנוּla.Kach.nuH3947wivesאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.ToH802for each of themאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376in the warבַּמִּלְחָמָ֑הba.mil.cha.MahH4421.Sinceכִּ֣יkiH3588youאַתֶּ֛ם'a.TemH859did notלֹ֥אlo'H3808actuallyכָּעֵ֥תka.'EtH6256give themנְתַתֶּ֥םne.ta.TemH5414your daughters,you have no guiltתֶּאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ סte'.Sha.muH816.’”

23The Benjamitesבְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ןbe.Nei vin.ya.MinH1121 H1144didוַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־vai.ya.'a.su-H6213as instructedכֵן֙khenH3651and carried awayוַיִּשְׂא֤וּvai.yis.'UH5375the numberלְמִסְפָּרָ֔םle.mis.pa.RamH4557of womenנָשִׁים֙na.ShimH802they needed fromמִן־min-H4480the dancersהַמְּחֹלְל֖וֹתha.me.cho.le.LotH2342אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834they caughtגָּזָ֑לוּga.Za.luH1497.They wentוַיֵּלְכ֗וּvai.ye.le.KhuH1980backוַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙vai.ya.Shu.vuH7725toאֶל־'el-H413their own inheritanceנַ֣חֲלָתָ֔םna.cha.la.TamH5159,rebuiltוַיִּבְנוּ֙vai.yiv.NuH1129אֶת־'et-H853their citiesהֶ֣עָרִ֔יםhe.'a.RimH5892,and settledוַיֵּשְׁב֖וּvai.ye.she.VuH3427in them.

24And at thatהַהִ֔יאha.Hi'H1931timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256,eachאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376of the Israelitesבְּנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙be.nei- Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478returnedוַיִּתְהַלְּכ֨וּvai.yit.ha.le.KhuH1980from thereמִשָּׁ֤םmi.ShamH8033to his own tribeלְשִׁבְט֖וֹle.shiv.ToH7626and clanוּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹ וַיֵּצְא֣וּu.le.mish.pach.To vai.ye.tze.'UH4940 H3318,eachאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376מִשָּׁ֔םmi.ShamH8033to his own inheritanceלְנַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃le.na.cha.la.ToH5159.

25In thoseהָהֵ֔םha.HemH1992daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117there was noאֵ֥ין'einH369kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478;everyoneאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376didיַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ya.'a.SehH6213what wasrightהַיָּשָׁ֥רhai.ya.SharH3477in his own eyesבְּעֵינָ֖יוbe.'ei.NavH5869.

Commentaries on Judges 21