Revised Literal Translation

Judges 21

1Now the menוְאִ֣ישׁve.'IshH376of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478had swornנִשְׁבַּ֥עnish.Ba'H7650in Mizpehבַּמִּצְפָּ֖הba.mitz.PahH4709,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,There shall not anyאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of us giveיִתֵּ֥ןyi.TenH5414his daughterבִּתּ֛וֹbi.ToH1323unto Benjaminלְבִנְיָמִ֖ןle.vin.ya.MinH1144to wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.

2And the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971cameוַיָּבֹ֤אvai.ya.Vo'H935to the houseH1004of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH1008 H430,and abodeוַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּvai.Ye.she.vuH3427there till evenהָעֶ֔רֶבha.'E.revH6153beforeלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440GodH430,and lifted upוַיִּשְׂא֣וּvai.yis.'UH5375their voicesקוֹלָ֔םko.LamH6963,and weptוַיִּבְכּ֖וּ בְּכִ֥יvai.yiv.Ku be.KhiH1065 H1058soreגָדֽוֹל׃ga.DolH1419;

3And saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559,O Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,why is this come to pass in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,that there should be to dayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117oneאֶחָֽד׃'e.ChadH259tribeשֵׁ֥בֶטShe.vetH7626lackingלְהִפָּקֵ֥דle.hi.pa.KedH6485in Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478?

4And it came to pass on the morrowמִֽמָּחֳרָ֔תmi.mo.cho.RatH4283,that the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971rose earlyוַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּvai.yash.Ki.muH7925,and builtוַיִּבְנוּ־vai.yiv.nu-H1129there an altarמִזְבֵּ֑חַmiz.Be.achH4196,and offeredוַיַּעֲל֥וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927burnt offeringsעֹל֖וֹתo.LotH5930and peace offeringsוּשְׁלָמִֽים׃ פu.she.la.MimH8002.

5And the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559, Who is thereamong all the tribesשִׁבְטֵ֥יshiv.TeiH7626of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478thatH834cameעָלָ֧ה'a.LahH5927not up with the congregationבַקָּהָ֛לva.ka.HalH6951unto Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068?For they had made a greatהַגְּדוֹלָ֜הha.ge.do.LahH1419oathהַשְּׁבוּעָ֨הha.she.vu.'AhH7621concerning him that came not upעָלָ֨ה'a.LahH5927to Yhwhיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068to Mizpehהַמִּצְפָּ֛הha.mitz.PahH4709,sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559,He shall surelyמ֥וֹתMotH4191be put to deathיוּמָֽת׃yu.MatH4191.

6And the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478repentedוַיִּנָּֽחֲמוּ֙vai.yi.na.cha.MuH5162them for Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֖ןbin.ya.MinH1144their brotherאָחִ֑יו'a.ChivH251,and saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559,There is oneאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259tribeשֵׁ֥בֶטShe.vetH7626cut offנִגְדַּ֥עnig.Da'H1438from Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃mi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478this dayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117.

7How shall we doנַּעֲשֶׂ֥הna.'a.SehH6213for wivesלְנָשִׁ֑יםle.na.ShimH802for them that remainלַנּוֹתָרִ֖יםla.no.ta.RimH3498,seeing we have swornנִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּnish.Ba'.nuH7650by Yhwhבַֽיהוָ֔הba.Yah.wehH3068that we will not giveתֵּת־tet-H5414them of our daughtersמִבְּנוֹתֵ֖ינוּmi.be.no.Tei.nuH1323to wivesלְנָשִֽׁים׃le.na.ShimH802?

8And they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559,What oneאֶחָד֙'e.ChadH259is thereof the tribesמִשִּׁבְטֵ֣יmi.shiv.TeiH7626of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478that came not upעָלָ֥ה'a.LahH5927to Mizpehהַמִּצְפָּ֑הha.mitz.PahH4709to Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068?And, behold, there cameבָא־va'-H935noneאִ֧ישׁ'ishH376to the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛הha.ma.cha.NehH4264from Jabesh–gileadמִיָּבֵ֥ישׁ גִּלְעָ֖דmi.ya.Veish gil.'AdH1568 H3003to the assemblyהַקָּהָֽל׃ha.ka.HalH6951.

9For the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971were numberedוַיִּתְפָּקֵ֖דvai.yit.pa.KedH6485, and, behold, there werenoneאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376of the inhabitantsמִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֖יmi.yo.she.VeiH3427of Jabesh–gileadיָבֵ֥שׁ גִּלְעָֽד׃ya.Vesh gil.'AdH1568 H3003there.

10And the congregationהָעֵדָ֗הha.'e.DahH5712sentוַיִּשְׁלְחוּ־vai.yish.le.chu-H7971thither twelveשְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֥רshe.neim- 'a.SarH6240 H8147thousandאֶ֛לֶף'E.lefH505menאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376of the valiantestמִבְּנֵ֣י הֶחָ֑יִלmi.be.Nei he.Cha.yilH2428 H1121,and commandedוַיְצַוּ֨וּvay.tza.VuH6680them, sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,GoH3212and smiteוְהִכִּיתֶ֞םve.hi.ki.TemH5221the inhabitantsיוֹשְׁבֵ֨יyo.she.VeiH3427of Jabesh–gileadיָבֵ֤שׁ גִּלְעָד֙ya.Vesh gil.'AdH1568 H3003with the edgeלְפִי־le.fi-H6310of the swordחֶ֔רֶבChe.revH2719,with the womenוְהַנָּשִׁ֖יםve.ha.na.ShimH802and the childrenוְהַטָּֽף׃ve.ha.TafH2945.

11And this isthe thingהַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697that ye shall doתַּעֲשׂ֑וּta.'a.SuH6213,Ye shall utterly destroyתַּחֲרִֽימוּ׃ta.cha.Ri.muH2763every maleH2145,and every womanאִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802that hath lainמִשְׁכַּב־mish.kav-H4904by manיֹדַ֥עַתyo.Da.'atH3045.

12And they foundוַֽיִּמְצְא֞וּvai.yim.tze.'UH4672among the inhabitantsמִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֣י׀mi.yo.she.VeiH3427of Jabesh–gileadיָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֗דya.Veish gil.'AdH1568 H3003fourאַרְבַּ֤ע'ar.Ba'H702hundredמֵאוֹת֙me.'OtH3967youngנַעֲרָ֣הna.'a.RahH5291virginsבְתוּלָ֔הve.tu.LahH1330,that had knownיָדְעָ֛הya.de.'AhH3045no manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376by lyingלְמִשְׁכַּ֣בle.mish.KavH4904with any maleזָכָ֑רza.KharH2145:and they broughtוַיָּבִ֨יאוּvai.ya.Vi.'uH935them unto the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ha.ma.cha.NehH4264to Shilohשִׁלֹ֔הshi.LohH7887, which isin the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנָֽעַן׃ סke.Na.'anH3667.

13And the whole congregationהָ֣עֵדָ֔הha.'e.DahH5712sentוַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙vai.yish.le.ChuH7971someto speakוַֽיְדַבְּרוּ֙vay.da.be.RuH1696to the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Benjaminבִנְיָמִ֔ןvin.ya.MinH1144that werein the rockבְּסֶ֣לַעbe.Se.la'H5553Rimmonרִמּ֑וֹןri.MonH7417,and to callוַיִּקְרְא֥וּvai.yik.re.'UH7121peaceablyשָׁלֽוֹם׃sha.LomH7965unto them.

14And Benjaminבִּנְיָמִן֙bin.ya.MinH1144came againוַיָּ֤שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725at that timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256;and they gaveוַיִּתְּנ֤וּvai.yi.te.NuH5414them wivesהַנָּשִׁ֔יםha.na.ShimH802which they had saved aliveחִיּ֔וּchi.YuH2421of the womenמִנְּשֵׁ֖יmi.ne.SheiH802of Jabesh–gileadיָבֵ֣שׁ גִּלְעָ֑דya.Vesh gil.'AdH1568 H3003:and yet so they sufficedמָצְא֥וּma.tze.'UH4672them not.

15And the peopleוְהָעָ֥םve.ha.'AmH5971repentedנִחָ֖םni.ChamH5162them for Benjaminלְבִנְיָמִ֑ןle.vin.ya.MinH1144,because that Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068had madeעָשָׂ֧ה'a.SahH6213a breachפֶּ֖רֶץPe.retzH6556in the tribesבְּשִׁבְטֵ֥יbe.shiv.TeiH7626of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

16Then the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of the congregationהָעֵדָ֔הha.'e.DahH5712saidוַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּvai.yo.me.RuH559,How shall we doנַּעֲשֶׂ֥הna.'a.SehH6213for wivesלְנָשִׁ֑יםle.na.ShimH802for them that remainלַנּוֹתָרִ֖יםla.no.ta.RimH3498,seeing the womenאִשָּֽׁה׃'i.ShahH802are destroyedנִשְׁמְדָ֥הnish.me.DahH8045out of Benjaminמִבִּנְיָמִ֖ןmi.bin.ya.MinH1144?

17And they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, There must bean inheritanceיְרֻשַּׁ֥תye.ru.ShatH3425for them that be escapedפְּלֵיטָ֖הpe.lei.TahH6413of Benjaminלְבִנְיָמִ֑ןle.vin.ya.MinH1144,that a tribeשֵׁ֖בֶטShe.vetH7626be not destroyedיִמָּחֶ֥הyi.ma.ChehH4229out of Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃mi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

18Howbeit we mayנוּכַ֛לnu.KhalH3201not giveלָתֵת־la.tet-H5414them wivesנָשִׁ֖יםna.ShimH802of our daughtersמִבְּנוֹתֵ֑ינוּmi.be.no.Tei.nuH1323:for the childrenבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478have swornנִשְׁבְּע֤וּnish.be.'UH7650,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Cursedאָר֕וּר'a.RurH779behe that givethנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414a wifeאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802to Benjaminלְבִנְיָמִֽן׃ סle.vin.ya.MinH1144.

19Then they saidוַיֹּאמְר֡וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, Behold, there isa feastחַג־chag-H2282of Yhwhיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068in Shilohבְּשִׁל֜וֹbe.shi.LoH7887yearlyH3117in a place which ison the north sideמִצְּפ֤וֹנָהmi.tze.Fo.nahH6828of Beth–elH1008,on the east sideמִזְרְחָ֣ה הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁmiz.re.Chah ha.She.meshH8121 H4217of the highwayלִמְסִלָּ֔הlim.si.LahH4546that goeth upהָעֹלָ֥הha.'o.LahH5927from Beth–elH1008to Shechemשְׁכֶ֑מָהshe.Khe.mahH7927,and on the southוּמִנֶּ֖גֶבu.mi.Ne.gevH5045of Lebonahלִלְבוֹנָֽה׃lil.vo.NahH3829.

20Therefore they commandedוַיְצַוּ֕וּvay.tzavH6680the childrenבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Benjaminבִנְיָמִ֖ןvin.ya.MinH1144,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,GoH3212and lie in waitוַאֲרַבְתֶּ֥םva.'a.rav.TemH693in the vineyardsבַּכְּרָמִֽים׃ba.ke.ra.MimH3754;

21And seeוּרְאִיתֶ֗םu.re.'i.TemH7200,and, behold, if the daughtersבְנוֹת־ve.not-H1323of Shilohשִׁילוֹ֮shi.LoH7887come outיֵ֨צְא֥וּye.tze.'UH3318to danceלָח֣וּלla.ChulH2342in dancesבַּמְּחֹלוֹת֒ba.me.cho.lOtH4246,then come ye outוִֽיצָאתֶם֙vi.tza.TemH3318of the vineyardsהַכְּרָמִ֔יםha.ke.ra.MimH3754,and catchוַחֲטַפְתֶּ֥םva.cha.taf.TemH2414you every manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376his wifeאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.ToH802of the daughtersמִבְּנ֣וֹתmi.be.NotH1323of Shilohשִׁיל֑וֹshi.LoH7887,and goוַהֲלַכְתֶּ֖םva.ha.lakh.TemH1980to the landאֶ֥רֶץ'E.retzH776of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִֽן׃bin.ya.MinH1144.

22And it shall be, when their fathersאֲבוֹתָם֩'a.vo.TamH1or their brethrenאֲחֵיהֶ֜ם'a.chei.HemH251comeיָבֹ֣אוּya.Vo.'uH935unto us to complainלָרִ֣יבla.rovH7378,that we will sayוְאָמַ֤רְנוּve.'a.Mar.nuH559unto them, Be favourableחָנּ֣וּנוּcha.Nu.nuH2603unto them for our sakes: because we reservedלָקַ֛חְנוּla.Kach.nuH3947not to each manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376his wifeאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.ToH802in the warבַּמִּלְחָמָ֑הba.mil.cha.MahH4421:for ye did not giveנְתַתֶּ֥םne.ta.TemH5414unto them at this timeכָּעֵ֥תka.'EtH6256, thatye should be guiltyתֶּאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ סte'.Sha.muH816.

23And the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Benjaminבִנְיָמִ֔ןvin.ya.MinH1144did soוַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־vai.ya.'a.su-H6213,and tookוַיִּשְׂא֤וּvai.yis.'UH5375themwivesנָשִׁים֙na.ShimH802,according to their numberלְמִסְפָּרָ֔םle.mis.pa.RamH4557,of them that dancedהַמְּחֹלְל֖וֹתha.me.cho.le.LotH2342,whom they caughtגָּזָ֑לוּga.Za.luH1497:and they wentH3212and returnedוַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙vai.ya.Shu.vuH7725unto their inheritanceנַ֣חֲלָתָ֔םna.cha.la.TamH5159,and repairedוַיִּבְנוּ֙vai.yiv.NuH1129the citiesהֶ֣עָרִ֔יםhe.'a.RimH5892,and dweltוַיֵּשְׁב֖וּvai.ye.she.VuH3427in them.

24And the childrenבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478departedוַיִּתְהַלְּכ֨וּvai.yit.ha.le.KhuH1980thence at that timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256,every manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376to his tribeלְשִׁבְט֖וֹle.shiv.ToH7626and to his familyוּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹu.le.mish.pach.ToH4940,and they went outוַיֵּצְא֣וּvai.ye.tze.'UH3318from thence every manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376to his inheritanceלְנַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃le.na.cha.la.ToH5159.

25In those daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117there wasno kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478:every manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376didיַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ya.'a.SehH6213that which wasrightהַיָּשָׁ֥רhai.ya.SharH3477in his own eyesבְּעֵינָ֖יוbe.'ei.NavH5869.

Commentaries on Judges 21