Revised Version 1895

Judges 21

1NowH5414themenH376ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478hadswornנִשְׁבַּ֥עnish.Ba'H7650inMizpahבַּמִּצְפָּ֖הba.mitz.PahH4709,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, There shallnotלֹא־lo'-H3808anyמִמֶּ֔נּוּmi.Me.nuH4480ofusH5414giveיִתֵּ֥ןyi.TenH5414hisdaughterבִּתּ֛וֹbi.ToH1323untoBenjaminלְבִנְיָמִ֖ןle.vin.ya.MinH1144towifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.

2And thepeopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971cameוַיָּבֹ֤אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Beth-el, andsatוַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּvai.Ye.she.vuH3427theretillH5704evenH5704beforeלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430, andliftedוַיִּשְׂא֣וּvai.yis.'UH5375upH5375theirvoicesקוֹלָ֔םko.LamH6963, andweptוַיִּבְכּ֖וּvai.yiv.KuH1058sore.

3And theysaidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, OLORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068, theGodאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,whyלָמָ֗הla.MahH4100is thiscomeH1961topassH1961inIsraelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478, that there should betodayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117onetribeשֵׁ֥בֶטShe.vetH7626lacking inIsraelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478?

4And itcameH1961topassH1961on the morrow, that thepeopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971roseH7925earlyוַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּvai.yash.Ki.muH7925, andbuiltוַיִּבְנוּ־vai.yiv.nu-H1129there analtarמִזְבֵּ֑חַmiz.Be.achH4196, andofferedוַיַּעֲל֥וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927burntעֹל֖וֹתo.LotH5930offeringsH8002andpeaceוּשְׁלָמִֽים׃ פu.she.la.MimH8002offeringsH8002.

5And thechildrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559, Who is there amongallמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605thetribesשִׁבְטֵ֥יshiv.TeiH7626ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478thatcameH1961notלֹא־lo'-H3808upעָלָ֧ה'a.LahH5927in theassemblyבַקָּהָ֛לva.ka.HalH6951unto theLORDיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068? For they hadmadeH1961agreatהַגְּדוֹלָ֜הha.ge.do.LahH1419oathהַשְּׁבוּעָ֨הha.she.vu.'AhH7621concerning him thatcameH1961notלֹא־lo'-H3808upעָלָ֨ה'a.LahH5927unto theLORDיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068toMizpahהַמִּצְפָּ֛הha.mitz.PahH4709,sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559, He shallsurelyכִּי֩kiH3588beputמ֥וֹתMotH4191todeathיוּמָֽת׃yu.MatH4191.

6And thechildrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478repentedוַיִּנָּֽחֲמוּ֙vai.yi.na.cha.MuH5162them forBenjaminבִּנְיָמִ֖ןbin.ya.MinH1144theirbrotherאָחִ֑יו'a.ChivH251, andsaidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, There is onetribeשֵׁ֥בֶטShe.vetH7626cutנִגְדַּ֥עnig.Da'H1438offH1438fromIsraelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃mi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478thisdayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117.

7Howמַה־mah-H4100shallweH587doנַּעֲשֶׂ֥הna.'a.SehH6213forwivesלְנָשִׁ֑יםle.na.ShimH802for them thatremainלַנּוֹתָרִ֖יםla.no.ta.RimH3498, seeingweH587haveswornנִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּnish.Ba'.nuH7650by theLORDבַֽיהוָ֔הba.Yah.wehH3068thatweH587willnotלְבִלְתִּ֛יle.vil.TiH1115giveתֵּת־tet-H5414them of ourdaughtersמִבְּנוֹתֵ֖ינוּmi.be.no.Tei.nuH1323towivesלְנָשִֽׁים׃le.na.ShimH802?

8And theysaidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559,Whatאֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherH834one is there of thetribesמִשִּׁבְטֵ֣יmi.shiv.TeiH7626ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478thatcameבָא־va'-H935notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808upעָלָ֥ה'a.LahH5927unto theLORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068toMizpahהַמִּצְפָּ֑הha.mitz.PahH4709? And,beholdוְ֠הִנֵּהVe.hi.nehH2009, therecameH935noneלֹ֣אlo'H3808to thecampהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛הha.ma.cha.NehH4264from Jabesh-gilead to theassemblyהַקָּהָֽל׃ha.ka.HalH6951.

9For when thepeopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971werenumberedוַיִּתְפָּקֵ֖דvai.yit.pa.KedH6485,beholdוְהִנֵּ֤הve.hi.NehH2009, there werenoneאֵֽין־'ein-H369of theinhabitantsמִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֖יmi.yo.she.VeiH3427of Jabesh-gilead there.

10And thecongregationהָעֵדָ֗הha.'e.DahH5712sentH7971thithertwelveעָשָׂ֥ר'a.SarH6240thousandאֶ֛לֶף'E.lefH505menאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376of the valiantest, andcommandedוַיְצַוּ֨וּvay.tza.VuH6680them,sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,GoH7971andsmiteוְהִכִּיתֶ֞םve.hi.ki.TemH5221theinhabitantsיוֹשְׁבֵ֨יyo.she.VeiH3427of Jabesh-gilead with theedgeלְפִי־le.fi-H6310of theswordחֶ֔רֶבChe.revH2719, with thewomenוְהַנָּשִׁ֖יםve.ha.na.ShimH802and thelittleוְהַטָּֽף׃ve.ha.TafH2945onesH2945.

11And this is thethingהַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697that ye shalldoתַּעֲשׂ֑וּta.'a.SuH6213; ye shall utterlydestroyתַּחֲרִֽימוּ׃ta.cha.Ri.muH2763everyכָּל־kol-H3605maleזָכָ֗רza.KharH2145, andeveryוְכָל־ve.kholH3605womanאִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802that hath lain bymanזָכָ֖רza.KharH2145.

12And theyfoundוַֽיִּמְצְא֞וּvai.yim.tze.'UH4672among theinhabitantsמִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֣י׀mi.yo.she.VeiH3427of Jabesh-gileadfourאַרְבַּ֤ע'ar.Ba'H702hundredמֵאוֹת֙me.'OtH3967youngנַעֲרָ֣הna.'a.RahH5291virginsבְתוּלָ֔הve.tu.LahH1330, that hadnotלֹֽא־lo'-H3808knownיָדְעָ֛הya.de.'AhH3045manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376bylyingלְמִשְׁכַּ֣בle.mish.KavH4904with him: and theybroughtוַיָּבִ֨יאוּvai.ya.Vi.'uH935them unto thecampהַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ha.ma.cha.NehH4264toShilohשִׁלֹ֔הshi.LohH7887,whichH834is in thelandבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776ofCanaanכְּנָֽעַן׃ סke.Na.'anH3667.

13And thewholeכָּל־kol-H3605congregationהָ֣עֵדָ֔הha.'e.DahH5712sentוַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙vai.yish.le.ChuH7971and spake to thechildrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121ofBenjaminבִנְיָמִ֔ןvin.ya.MinH1144that were in therockבְּסֶ֣לַעbe.Se.la'H5553ofRimmonרִמּ֑וֹןri.MonH7417, andproclaimedוַיִּקְרְא֥וּvai.yik.re.'UH7121peaceשָׁלֽוֹם׃sha.LomH7965unto them.

14AndBenjaminבִּנְיָמִן֙bin.ya.MinH1144returnedוַיָּ֤שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725at that time; and theygaveוַיִּתְּנ֤וּvai.yi.te.NuH5414them thewomenהַנָּשִׁ֔יםha.na.ShimH802whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834they had savedaliveחִיּ֔וּchi.YuH2421of thewomenמִנְּשֵׁ֖יmi.ne.SheiH802of Jabesh-gilead: and yetsoכֵּֽן׃KenH3651they sufficed themnotוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808.

15And thepeopleוְהָעָ֥םve.ha.'AmH5971repentedנִחָ֖םni.ChamH5162them forBenjaminלְבִנְיָמִ֑ןle.vin.ya.MinH1144,becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588that theLORDיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068hadmadeעָשָׂ֧ה'a.SahH6213abreachפֶּ֖רֶץPe.retzH6556in thetribesבְּשִׁבְטֵ֥יbe.shiv.TeiH7626ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

16Then theeldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of thecongregationהָעֵדָ֔הha.'e.DahH5712saidוַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּvai.yo.me.RuH559,HowH4100shallweH3588doנַּעֲשֶׂ֥הna.'a.SehH6213forwivesלְנָשִׁ֑יםle.na.ShimH802for them thatremainלַנּוֹתָרִ֖יםla.no.ta.RimH3498,seeingH3588thewomenאִשָּֽׁה׃'i.ShahH802aredestroyedנִשְׁמְדָ֥הnish.me.DahH8045outH4100ofBenjaminמִבִּנְיָמִ֖ןmi.bin.ya.MinH1144?

17And theysaidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, TheremustH3808be aninheritanceיְרֻשַּׁ֥תye.ru.ShatH3425for them that areescapedפְּלֵיטָ֖הpe.lei.TahH6413ofBenjaminלְבִנְיָמִ֑ןle.vin.ya.MinH1144, that atribeשֵׁ֖בֶטShe.vetH7626benotH3808blottedoutיִמָּחֶ֥הyi.ma.ChehH4229fromIsraelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃mi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

18Howbeitweוַאֲנַ֗חְנוּva.'a.Nach.nuH587maynotלֹ֥אlo'H3808giveH5414themwivesנָשִׁ֖יםna.ShimH802of ourdaughtersמִבְּנוֹתֵ֑ינוּmi.be.no.Tei.nuH1323: for thechildrenבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478hadswornנִשְׁבְּע֤וּnish.be.'UH7650,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Cursedאָר֕וּר'a.RurH779be he that giveth awifeאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802toBenjaminלְבִנְיָמִֽן׃ סle.vin.ya.MinH1144.

19And theysaidוַיֹּאמְר֡וּvai.yo.me.RuH559,Beholdהִנֵּה֩hi.NehH2009, there is afeastחַג־chag-H2282of theLORDיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068fromyearמִיָּמִ֣ים׀mi.ya.MimH3117toyearיָמִ֗ימָהya.Mi.mahH3117inShilohבְּשִׁל֜וֹbe.shi.LoH7887,whichאֲשֶׁ֞ר'a.SherH834is on thenorthמִצְּפ֤וֹנָהmi.tze.Fo.nahH6828of Beth-el, on theeastמִזְרְחָ֣הmiz.re.ChahH4217sideH6828of thehighwayלִמְסִלָּ֔הlim.si.LahH4546that goethupהָעֹלָ֥הha.'o.LahH5927from Beth-el toShechemשְׁכֶ֑מָהshe.Khe.mahH7927, and on thesouthוּמִנֶּ֖גֶבu.mi.Ne.gevH5045ofLebonahלִלְבוֹנָֽה׃lil.vo.NahH3829.

20And theycommandedוַיְצַוּ֕וּvay.tzavH6680thechildrenבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121ofBenjaminבִנְיָמִ֖ןvin.ya.MinH1144,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, Go andlieוַאֲרַבְתֶּ֥םva.'a.rav.TemH693inwaitH693in thevineyardsבַּכְּרָמִֽים׃ba.ke.ra.MimH3754;

21andseeוּרְאִיתֶ֗םu.re.'i.TemH7200, and,beholdוְ֠הִנֵּהVe.hi.nehH2009,ifH518thedaughtersבְנוֹת־ve.not-H1323ofShilohשִׁילוֹ֮shi.LoH7887comeH1980outיֵ֨צְא֥וּye.tze.'UH3318todanceH4246in thedancesH4246, thencomeH1980yeoutוִֽיצָאתֶם֙vi.tza.TemH3318of thevineyardsהַכְּרָמִ֔יםha.ke.ra.MimH3754, andcatchוַחֲטַפְתֶּ֥םva.cha.taf.TemH2414youH518everyH376manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376hiswifeאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.ToH802of thedaughtersמִבְּנ֣וֹתmi.be.NotH1323ofShilohשִׁיל֑וֹshi.LoH7887, andgoוַהֲלַכְתֶּ֖םva.ha.lakh.TemH1980to thelandאֶ֥רֶץ'E.retzH776ofBenjaminבִּנְיָמִֽן׃bin.ya.MinH1144.

22And it shall be, when theirfathersאֲבוֹתָם֩'a.vo.TamH1or theirbrethrenאֲחֵיהֶ֜ם'a.chei.HemH251comeיָבֹ֣אוּya.Vo.'uH935tocomplainלָרִ֣יבla.rovH7378untousH5414, thatweכִּֽי־ki-H3588willsayוְאָמַ֤רְנוּve.'a.Mar.nuH559unto them,GrantH5414themgraciouslyחָנּ֣וּנוּcha.Nu.nuH2603untousH5414:becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588weכִּ֣יkiH3588tookלָקַ֛חְנוּla.Kach.nuH3947notH3808foreachH376manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376of them hiswifeאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.ToH802inbattleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֑הba.mil.cha.MahH4421:neitherH3808didH3808yegiveH5414them unto them;elseא֨וֹ'oH176would yenowוְהָיָ֡הve.ha.YahH1961beguiltyתֶּאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ סte'.Sha.muH816.

23And thechildrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121ofBenjaminבִנְיָמִ֔ןvin.ya.MinH1144didוַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־vai.ya.'a.su-H6213soכֵן֙khenH3651, andtookH5375themwivesנָשִׁים֙na.ShimH802,accordingאֶל־'el-H413to theirnumberלְמִסְפָּרָ֔םle.mis.pa.RamH4557, of them that danced,whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834theycarriedH5375offH5375: and theywentH7725andreturnedוַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙vai.ya.Shu.vuH7725unto theirinheritanceנַ֣חֲלָתָ֔םna.cha.la.TamH5159, andbuiltוַיִּבְנוּ֙vai.yiv.NuH1129thecitiesהֶ֣עָרִ֔יםhe.'a.RimH5892, anddweltוַיֵּשְׁב֖וּvai.ye.she.VuH3427in them.

24And thechildrenבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478departedH1980thence at that time,everyH376manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376to histribeלְשִׁבְט֖וֹle.shiv.ToH7626and to hisfamilyוּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹu.le.mish.pach.ToH4940, and theywentH1980outוַיֵּצְא֣וּvai.ye.tze.'UH3318from thenceeveryH376manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376to hisinheritanceלְנַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃le.na.cha.la.ToH5159.

25InthoseH376daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117there wasnoאֵ֥ין'einH369kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428inIsraelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478:everyH376manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376didיַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ya.'a.SehH6213thatwhichH5869wasrightהַיָּשָׁ֥רhai.ya.SharH3477in hisownH376eyesבְּעֵינָ֖יוbe.'ei.NavH5869.

Commentaries on Judges 21

Revised Version 1895 — 1895 — Public Domain