Judges 21

¹The sons of Israel had also taken an oath at Mizpah, and they said, “None of us shall give his daughters as a wife to the sons of Benjamin.”

²And they all went to the house of God at Shiloh. And sitting in his sight until evening, they lifted up their voice, and they began to weep, with a great wailing, saying,

³“Why, O Lord, God of Israel, has this evil happened among your people, so that this day one tribe would be taken away from us?”

⁴Then, rising at first light on the next day, they built an altar. And they offered holocausts and victims of peace offerings there, and they said,

⁵“Who, out of all the tribes of Israel, did not ascend with the army of the Lord?” For they had bound themselves with a great oath, when they were at Mizpah, that whoever was not present would be slain.

⁶And the sons of Israel, having been led to repentance over their brother Benjamin, began to say: “One tribe has been taken away from Israel.

⁷From where shall they receive wives? For we have all sworn in common that we will not give our daughters to them.”

⁸For this reason, they said, “Who is there, out of all the tribes of Israel, that did not ascend to the Lord at Mizpah?” And behold, the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead were found not to have been among that army.

⁹(Likewise, in the time when they had been at Shiloh, not one of them was found to be there.)

¹⁰And so they sent ten thousand very robust men, and they instructed them, saying, “Go and strike down the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead with the edge of the sword, including their wives and little ones.”

¹¹And this shall be what you ought to do: “Every one of the male gender, as well as all the women who have known men, shall be put to death. But the virgins you shall reserve.”

¹²And four hundred virgins, who had not known the bed of a man, were found from Jabesh-Gilead. And they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, in the land of Canaan.

¹³And they sent messengers to the sons of Benjamin, who were at the rock of Rimmon, and they instructed them, so that they would receive them in peace.

¹⁴And the sons of Benjamin went, at that time, and wives were given to them from the daughters of Jabesh-Gilead. But others were not found, whom they might give in a similar manner.

¹⁵And all of Israel was very saddened, and they did penance for destroying one tribe out of Israel.

¹⁶And those greater by birth said: “What shall we do with the remainder, those who have not received wives? For all the females of Benjamin have been cut down,

¹⁷and we must take great care, and make provision with a very great diligence, so that one tribe may not be wiped away from Israel.

¹⁸As for our own daughters, we are not able to give them, being bound by an oath and a curse, when we said, ‘Accursed is he who will give any of his daughters to Benjamin as a wife.’ ”

¹⁹And they took counsel, and they said, “Behold, there is a yearly solemnity of the Lord at Shiloh, which is situated to the north of the city of Bethel, and on the eastern side of the way that one takes from Bethel to Shechem, and to the south of the town of Lebonah.”

²⁰And they instructed the sons of Benjamin, and they said: “Go, and hide in the vineyards.

²¹And when you will have seen daughters of Shiloh being led out to dance, according to custom, go forth suddenly from the vineyards, and let each one seize one wife from among them, and travel into the land of Benjamin.

²²And when their fathers and brothers arrive, and they begin to complain against you and to argue, we will say to them: ‘Take pity on them. For they have not seized them by right of war or conquest. Instead, begging to receive them, you did not give them, and so the sin was on your part.’ ”

²³And so the sons of Benjamin did just as they had been ordered. And according to their number, they seized for themselves one wife each, out of those who were led out dancing. And they went into their own possession, and they built up their cities, and they lived in them.

²⁴The sons of Israel also returned, according to their tribes and families, to their tents. In those days, there was no king in Israel. Instead, each one did what seemed right to himself.

Judges 21

¹Now the children of Israel had also sworn in Maspha, saying: None of us shall give of his daughters to the children of Benjamin to wife.

²And they all came to the house of God in Silo, and sitting before him till the evening, lifted up their voices, and began to lament and weep, saying:

³O Lord God of Israel, why is so great an evil come to pass in thy people, that this day one tribe should be taken away from among us?

⁴And rising early the next day, they built an altar: and offered there holocausts, and victims of peace, and they said:

⁵Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the army of the Lord? for they had bound themselves with a great oath, when they were in Maspha, that whosoever were wanting should be slain.

⁶And the children of Israel being moved with repentance for their brother Benjamin, began to say: One tribe is taken away from Israel.

⁷Whence shall they take wives? For we have all in general sworn, not to give our daughters to them.

⁸Therefore they said: Who is there of all the tribes of Israel, that came not up to the Lord to Maspha? And, behold, the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad were found not to have been in that army.

⁹(At that time also when they were in Silo, no one of them was found there,)

¹⁰So they sent ten thousand of the most valiant men, and commanded them, saying: Go and put the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad to the sword, with their wives and their children.

¹¹And this is what you shall observe: Every male, and all women that have known men, you shall kill, but the virgins you shall save.

¹²And there were found of Jabes Galaad four hundred virgins, that had not known the bed of a man, and they brought them to the camp in Silo, into the land of Chanaan.

¹³And they sent messengers to the children of Benjamin, that were in the rock Remmon, and commanded them to receive them in peace.

¹⁴And the children of Benjamin came at that time, and wives were given them of Jabes Galaad: but they found no others, whom they might give in like manner.

¹⁵And all Israel was very sorry, and repented for the destroying of one tribe out of Israel.

¹⁶And the ancients said: What shall we do with the rest, that have not received wives? for all the women in Benjamin are dead.

¹⁷And we must use all care, and provide with great diligence, that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.

¹⁸For as to our own daughters we cannot give them, being bound with an oath and a curse, whereby we said: Cursed be he that shall give Benjamin any of his daughters to wife.

¹⁹So they took counsel, and said: Behold, there is a yearly solemnity of the Lord in Silo, which is situate on the north of the city of Bethel, and on the east side of the way, that goeth from Bethel to Sichem, and on the south of the town of Lebona.

²⁰And they commanded the children of Benjamin and said: Go, and lie hid in the vineyards,

²¹And when you shall see the daughters of Silo come out, as the custom is, to dance, come ye on a sudden out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife among them, and go into the land of Benjamin.

²²And when their fathers and their brethren shall come, and shall begin to complain against you, and to chide, we will say to them: Have pity on them: for they took them not away as by the right of war or conquest, but when they asked to have them, you gave them not, and the fault was committed on your part.

²³And the children of Benjamin did as they had been commanded: and, according to their number, they carried off for themselves every man his wife of them that were dancing: and they went into their possession, and built up their cities, and dwelt in them.

²⁴The children of Israel also returned by their tribes, and families, to their dwellings. In those days there was no king in Israel: but every one did that which seemed right to himself.