Judges 21:16-25

16Then the eldersH2205 of the congregationH5712 saidH559, “WhatH4100 should we doH6213 about wivesH802 for those who remainH3498, sinceH3588 the womenH802 of BenjaminH1144 have been destroyedH8045?” 17They addedH559, “There must be heirsH3425 for the survivorsH6413 of BenjaminH1144, so that a tribeH7626 of IsraelH3478 will notH3808 be wiped outH4229. 18But weH587 cannotH3808H3201 giveH5414 them our daughtersH1323 as wivesH802.”

ForH3588 the IsraelitesH1121H3478H559 had swornH7650, “Cursed isH779 he who givesH5414 a wifeH802 to a BenjamiteH1144.”

19“But lookH2009,” they saidH559, “there is a yearlyH3117 feastH2282 to the LORDH3068 in ShilohH7887, whichH834 is northH6828 of BethelH1008 eastH4217H8121 of the roadH4546 that goes upH5927 fromH1008 BethelH1008 to ShechemH7927, and southH5045 of LebonahH3829.”

20So they commandedH6680 the BenjamitesH1121H1144H559: “GoH1980, hideH693 in the vineyardsH3754 21and watchH7200. WhenH518 you seeH2009 the daughtersH1323 of ShilohH7887 come outH3318 to performH2342 their dancesH4246, each of youH376 is to come outH3318 of the vineyardsH3754, catchH2414 for himself a wifeH802 fromH4480 the daughtersH1323 of ShilohH7887, and goH1980 to the landH776 of BenjaminH1144. 22WhenH3588 their fathersH1 orH176 brothersH251 comeH935 to usH413 to complainH7378, we will tell themH559H413, ‘Do us a favorH2603 by helping themH853, sinceH3588 we did notH3808 getH3947 wivesH802 for each of themH376 in the warH4421. SinceH3588 youH859 did notH3808 actuallyH6256 give themH5414 your daughters, you have no guiltH816.’”

23The BenjamitesH1121H1144 didH6213 as instructed and carried awayH5375 the numberH4557 of womenH802 they needed fromH4480 the dancersH2342 they caughtH1497. They wentH1980 backH7725 toH413 their own inheritanceH5159, rebuiltH1129 their citiesH5892, and settledH3427 in them. 24And at thatH1931 timeH6256, eachH376 of the IsraelitesH1121H3478 returnedH1980 from thereH8033 to his own tribeH7626 and clanH4940H3318, eachH376 to his own inheritanceH5159.

25In thoseH1992 daysH3117 there was noH369 kingH4428 in IsraelH3478; everyoneH376 didH6213 what was rightH3477 in his own eyesH5869.