Judges 21:23 - The children of Benjamin did so, and took wives for themselves, according to their number, of those who danced, whom they carried off. They went and returned to their inheritance, built the cities, and lived in them.
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What does "Judges 21:23" mean?
This verse describes the resolution to a difficult situation in the book of Judges, specifically concerning the tribe of Benjamin. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"The children of Benjamin did so, and took wives for themselves, according to their number, of those who danced, whom they carried off." This refers back to a plan devised to ensure the survival of the tribe of Benjamin. After a near-total annihilation of the tribe due to a civil war sparked by the incident at Gibeah (Judges 19-21), the Israelites realized they had sworn an oath not to give their daughters in marriage to Benjamin. To circumvent this oath while still allowing the tribe to repopulate, they hatched a plan. They allowed the remaining 600 Benjaminite men to ambush and capture young women from Shiloh who were participating in a yearly festival involving dancing. These women became their wives.
"according to their number": This emphasizes that enough women were captured to provide wives for all the surviving Benjaminites.
"They went and returned to their inheritance, built the cities, and lived in them." This describes the re-establishment of the tribe of Benjamin. With wives secured, they returned to the land allotted to them as their inheritance, rebuilt the cities that had been destroyed during the civil war, and began to rebuild their lives and their tribe. This signifies the restoration of Benjamin's place within Israel.
In summary, this verse describes how the tribe of Benjamin, on the verge of extinction, was able to survive and rebuild its society through a calculated plan involving the capture of wives. It highlights the pragmatic, though morally questionable, means employed to uphold the oath while ensuring the survival of one of the tribes of Israel.
Important Considerations:
Moral Implications: The narrative in Judges is often morally complex, and this passage is no exception. The abduction and forced marriage of these women is a disturbing act and reflects the chaotic and morally ambiguous period in Israel's history described in the book of Judges, where "everyone did what was right in their own eyes" (Judges 21:25).
Context is Key: It is crucial to read this verse in the broader context of the book of Judges and the historical period it describes. The book is not necessarily presenting these events as morally right but rather as a reflection of the state of Israel at that time.
Preservation of a Tribe: The underlying motivation was to prevent the extinction of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, which was seen as crucial to the fulfillment of God's promises.
This verse is a stark reminder of the difficult choices and sometimes brutal realities that people faced in ancient times. It prompts reflection on issues of survival, morality, and the complexities of religious and cultural obligations.
Judges 21:23 - The children of Benjamin did so, and took wives for themselves, according to their number, of those who danced, whom they carried off. They went and returned to their inheritance, built the cities, and lived in them.
What does "Judges 21:23" mean?
This verse describes the resolution to a difficult situation in the book of Judges, specifically concerning the tribe of Benjamin. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"The children of Benjamin did so, and took wives for themselves, according to their number, of those who danced, whom they carried off." This refers back to a plan devised to ensure the survival of the tribe of Benjamin. After a near-total annihilation of the tribe due to a civil war sparked by the incident at Gibeah (Judges 19-21), the Israelites realized they had sworn an oath not to give their daughters in marriage to Benjamin. To circumvent this oath while still allowing the tribe to repopulate, they hatched a plan. They allowed the remaining 600 Benjaminite men to ambush and capture young women from Shiloh who were participating in a yearly festival involving dancing. These women became their wives.
"according to their number": This emphasizes that enough women were captured to provide wives for all the surviving Benjaminites.
"They went and returned to their inheritance, built the cities, and lived in them." This describes the re-establishment of the tribe of Benjamin. With wives secured, they returned to the land allotted to them as their inheritance, rebuilt the cities that had been destroyed during the civil war, and began to rebuild their lives and their tribe. This signifies the restoration of Benjamin's place within Israel.
In summary, this verse describes how the tribe of Benjamin, on the verge of extinction, was able to survive and rebuild its society through a calculated plan involving the capture of wives. It highlights the pragmatic, though morally questionable, means employed to uphold the oath while ensuring the survival of one of the tribes of Israel.
Important Considerations:
Moral Implications: The narrative in Judges is often morally complex, and this passage is no exception. The abduction and forced marriage of these women is a disturbing act and reflects the chaotic and morally ambiguous period in Israel's history described in the book of Judges, where "everyone did what was right in their own eyes" (Judges 21:25).
Context is Key: It is crucial to read this verse in the broader context of the book of Judges and the historical period it describes. The book is not necessarily presenting these events as morally right but rather as a reflection of the state of Israel at that time.
Preservation of a Tribe: The underlying motivation was to prevent the extinction of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, which was seen as crucial to the fulfillment of God's promises.
This verse is a stark reminder of the difficult choices and sometimes brutal realities that people faced in ancient times. It prompts reflection on issues of survival, morality, and the complexities of religious and cultural obligations.