Judges 21:13 - The whole congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin who were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Judges 21:13" mean?
This verse, Judges 21:13, is part of a difficult and disturbing narrative in the book of Judges. To understand the meaning, we need to consider the context:
Background: The tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out by the other tribes of Israel because they refused to deliver up the perpetrators of a heinous crime (the gang rape and murder of a Levite's concubine in Gibeah). The Israelites, initially motivated by righteous anger, swore an oath not to give their daughters in marriage to any Benjaminite.
Problem: After the destruction, the Israelites realized that one of their own tribes was nearly extinct. They regretted their oath and needed to find a way to preserve Benjamin.
The "Rock of Rimmon": The surviving Benjamites (only 600 men) fled to the "rock of Rimmon" - a rugged, defensible place where they hid. They were in a state of fear and probably despair.
Judges 21:13: This verse signifies a turning point. "The whole congregation" (meaning the other tribes of Israel) sent messengers to the Benjamites hiding in the rock of Rimmon. The key phrase is "proclaimed peace to them." This means they offered a cessation of hostilities and a promise of reconciliation.
Therefore, the verse means that the other tribes of Israel, after recognizing the near-extinction of Benjamin, extended an offer of peace and reconciliation to the remaining Benjamites hiding for their lives in the Rock of Rimmon. They were essentially saying, "We are no longer at war with you. We want to find a way for you to return and rebuild."
Important Considerations:
The Method of "Finding Wives": While the verse marks a shift towards peace, the subsequent actions taken to repopulate Benjamin (raiding Jabesh-Gilead and the "dancing girls" of Shiloh) are morally questionable and highlight the chaotic and morally ambiguous nature of the period of the Judges. This is not a story of pure righteousness, but a narrative of flawed people trying to deal with the consequences of their violent actions.
The Nature of "Peace": The "peace" offered was conditional and came with limitations. The Benjamites were still subjected to the consequences of their tribe's actions, and the solution to find them wives involved violence and questionable ethics.
In conclusion, Judges 21:13 is a crucial verse in the story of Benjamin's near-extinction and subsequent re-establishment. It signifies the other tribes' offer of peace and a pathway back into the Israelite community, albeit a path fraught with further moral complications and compromises. It is a pivotal moment but not a resolution to all the underlying problems of the time.
Judges 21:13 - The whole congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin who were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them.
What does "Judges 21:13" mean?
This verse, Judges 21:13, is part of a difficult and disturbing narrative in the book of Judges. To understand the meaning, we need to consider the context:
Background: The tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out by the other tribes of Israel because they refused to deliver up the perpetrators of a heinous crime (the gang rape and murder of a Levite's concubine in Gibeah). The Israelites, initially motivated by righteous anger, swore an oath not to give their daughters in marriage to any Benjaminite.
Problem: After the destruction, the Israelites realized that one of their own tribes was nearly extinct. They regretted their oath and needed to find a way to preserve Benjamin.
The "Rock of Rimmon": The surviving Benjamites (only 600 men) fled to the "rock of Rimmon" - a rugged, defensible place where they hid. They were in a state of fear and probably despair.
Judges 21:13: This verse signifies a turning point. "The whole congregation" (meaning the other tribes of Israel) sent messengers to the Benjamites hiding in the rock of Rimmon. The key phrase is "proclaimed peace to them." This means they offered a cessation of hostilities and a promise of reconciliation.
Therefore, the verse means that the other tribes of Israel, after recognizing the near-extinction of Benjamin, extended an offer of peace and reconciliation to the remaining Benjamites hiding for their lives in the Rock of Rimmon. They were essentially saying, "We are no longer at war with you. We want to find a way for you to return and rebuild."
Important Considerations:
The Method of "Finding Wives": While the verse marks a shift towards peace, the subsequent actions taken to repopulate Benjamin (raiding Jabesh-Gilead and the "dancing girls" of Shiloh) are morally questionable and highlight the chaotic and morally ambiguous nature of the period of the Judges. This is not a story of pure righteousness, but a narrative of flawed people trying to deal with the consequences of their violent actions.
The Nature of "Peace": The "peace" offered was conditional and came with limitations. The Benjamites were still subjected to the consequences of their tribe's actions, and the solution to find them wives involved violence and questionable ethics.
In conclusion, Judges 21:13 is a crucial verse in the story of Benjamin's near-extinction and subsequent re-establishment. It signifies the other tribes' offer of peace and a pathway back into the Israelite community, albeit a path fraught with further moral complications and compromises. It is a pivotal moment but not a resolution to all the underlying problems of the time.