Judges 21:1-14

1Now the menH376 of IsraelH3478 had sworn an oathH7650 at MizpahH4709, sayingH559, “Not oneH376H3808 of usH4480 will give his daughterH1323 in marriageH5414 to a BenjamiteH1144H802.”

2So the peopleH5971 cameH935 to BethelH1008 and satH3427 thereH8033 beforeH6440 GodH430 untilH5704 eveningH6153, lifting upH5375 their voicesH6963 and weepingH1058H1065 bitterlyH1419. 3“WhyH4100, O LORDH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478,” they cried outH559, “has thisH2063 happenedH1961 in IsraelH3478? TodayH3117 in IsraelH3478 oneH259 tribeH7626 is missingH6485!”

4

The next dayH4283 the peopleH5971 got up earlyH7925, builtH1129 an altarH4196 thereH8033, and presentedH5927 burnt offeringsH5930 and peace offeringsH8002. 5The IsraelitesH1121H3478 askedH559, “WhoH4310 among allH3605 the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478 did notH3808 comeH5927 to the assemblyH6951 beforeH413 the LORDH3068?” ForH3588 they had takenH1961 a solemnH1419 oathH7621 that anyoneH834 who failedH3808 to come upH5927 beforeH413 the LORDH3068 at MizpahH4709H559 would surely be put to deathH4191.

6And the IsraelitesH1121H3478 grievedH5162 forH413 their brothersH251, the BenjamitesH1144, and saidH559, “TodayH3117 aH259 tribeH7626 is cut offH1438 from IsraelH3478. 7WhatH4100 should we doH6213 about wivesH802 for the survivorsH3498, since weH587 have swornH7650 by the LORDH3068 notH1115 to giveH5414 them our daughtersH1323 in marriageH802?”

8So they askedH559, “WhichH4310 oneH259 of the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478 failedH3808 to come upH5927 beforeH413 the LORDH3068 at MizpahH4709?” And, in factH2009, no oneH3808H376 from Jabesh-gileadH3003H1568 had comeH935 toH413 the campH4264 for the assemblyH6951. 9For when the peopleH5971H2009 were countedH6485, noneH369H376 of the residentsH3427 of Jabesh-gileadH3003H1568 were thereH8033.

10So the congregationH5712 sentH7971 12,000H8147H6240H505 ofH1121 their most valiantH2428 menH376 and commanded themH6680: “GoH1980 and putH5221 to the swordH6310H2719 those livingH3427 in Jabesh-gileadH3003H1568, including womenH802 and childrenH2945. 11ThisH2088H1697 is whatH834 you are to doH6213: Devote to destructionH27631 everyH3605 maleH2145, as well as everyH3605 femaleH802 who has had relations withH3045H4904 a manH2145.”

12So they foundH4672 among the inhabitantsH3427 of Jabesh-gileadH3003H1568 fourH702 hundredH3967 youngH5291 womenH1330 whoH834 had notH3808 had relations withH3045H376H4904 a manH2145, and they broughtH935 themH853 toH413 the campH4264 at ShilohH7887 in the landH776 of CanaanH3667.

13Then the wholeH3605 congregationH5712 sentH7971 a messageH1696H7121 of peaceH7965 toH413 the BenjamitesH1121H1144 whoH834 were at the rockH5553 of RimmonH7417. 14And at thatH1931 timeH6256 the BenjamitesH1144 returnedH7725 and were givenH5414 the womenH802 who were sparedH2421H802 from Jabesh-gileadH3003H1568. But there were notH3808H4672 enoughH3651 women for all of them.