Judges 21:3 - They said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that there should be one tribe lacking in Israel today?”
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What does "Judges 21:3" mean?
Judges 21:3 expresses the deep distress and regret felt by the Israelites over their hasty decision to vow not to give their daughters in marriage to the Benjamites (Judges 21:1). This vow, combined with their near-extermination of the tribe of Benjamin after the incident in Gibeah (Judges 20), has resulted in a situation where one of the twelve tribes of Israel is on the verge of disappearing.
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"They said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel...": This is a direct address to God. The Israelites are turning to Yahweh in prayer, acknowledging Him as their God and the God of Israel. This shows they recognize His authority and power over their situation.
"...why has this happened in Israel...": This is a lament and a cry for understanding. They are questioning why this disastrous outcome has befallen them and their nation. It's a common theme in the Old Testament when the Israelites face hardship – they question God's plan.
"...that there should be one tribe lacking in Israel today?”: This is the heart of their concern. The potential loss of a tribe represented a significant threat to the overall unity, completeness, and strength of Israel. The twelve tribes were seen as essential to the nation's identity and destiny. Losing one would diminish the whole. Also, the land was divided between the twelve tribes, so losing one tribe brings up the issue of that tribe's portion of land.
In essence, the verse conveys:
Regret: The Israelites realize the severity of their actions and the potentially devastating consequences.
Concern for National Unity: The threat to the tribe of Benjamin is seen as a threat to the entire nation of Israel.
A Plea to God: They are asking God for guidance and perhaps mercy, wondering how this situation can be rectified or understood.
Acknowledgement of God's Sovereignty: They are turning to God as the ultimate authority in their crisis.
The following verses describe their actions to try to undo the vow they made and prevent the tribe of Benjamin from vanishing. They are stuck with their vow to God, but they are trying to save the tribe of Benjamin and still honor the vow.
Judges 21:3 - They said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that there should be one tribe lacking in Israel today?”
What does "Judges 21:3" mean?
Judges 21:3 expresses the deep distress and regret felt by the Israelites over their hasty decision to vow not to give their daughters in marriage to the Benjamites (Judges 21:1). This vow, combined with their near-extermination of the tribe of Benjamin after the incident in Gibeah (Judges 20), has resulted in a situation where one of the twelve tribes of Israel is on the verge of disappearing.
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"They said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel...": This is a direct address to God. The Israelites are turning to Yahweh in prayer, acknowledging Him as their God and the God of Israel. This shows they recognize His authority and power over their situation.
"...why has this happened in Israel...": This is a lament and a cry for understanding. They are questioning why this disastrous outcome has befallen them and their nation. It's a common theme in the Old Testament when the Israelites face hardship – they question God's plan.
"...that there should be one tribe lacking in Israel today?”: This is the heart of their concern. The potential loss of a tribe represented a significant threat to the overall unity, completeness, and strength of Israel. The twelve tribes were seen as essential to the nation's identity and destiny. Losing one would diminish the whole. Also, the land was divided between the twelve tribes, so losing one tribe brings up the issue of that tribe's portion of land.
In essence, the verse conveys:
Regret: The Israelites realize the severity of their actions and the potentially devastating consequences.
Concern for National Unity: The threat to the tribe of Benjamin is seen as a threat to the entire nation of Israel.
A Plea to God: They are asking God for guidance and perhaps mercy, wondering how this situation can be rectified or understood.
Acknowledgement of God's Sovereignty: They are turning to God as the ultimate authority in their crisis.
The following verses describe their actions to try to undo the vow they made and prevent the tribe of Benjamin from vanishing. They are stuck with their vow to God, but they are trying to save the tribe of Benjamin and still honor the vow.