Judges

Chapter 21

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'i֣yshsh yishsera'e֔l nishshebּa֥ bּamּitzepּa֖h le'mo֑r 'i֣yshsh mimּe֔nּu lo'-yitּe֥n bּitּ֛o lebineyami֖n le'ishshּaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The men of Israel had taken an oath at Mizpah: "Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite."

וְאִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נִשְׁבַּ֥ע בַּמִּצְפָּ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אִ֣ישׁ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ לֹא־יִתֵּ֥ן בִּתּ֛וֹ לְבִנְיָמִ֖ן לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּabo֤ ha'am֙ bּeֽyt-'e֔l vayּe֤shshebu shsham֙ 'ad-ha'e֔reb lipene֖y ha'elohi֑ym vayּishse'֣u qola֔m vayּibekּ֖u bּeki֥y gadֽol׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The people went to Bethel, where they sat before God until evening, raising their voices and weeping bitterly.

וַיָּבֹ֤א הָעָם֙ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ שָׁם֙ עַד־הָעֶ֔רֶב לִפְנֵ֖י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ קוֹלָ֔ם וַיִּבְכּ֖וּ בְּכִ֥י גָדֽוֹל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer֔u lama֗h yehvah֙ 'elohe֣y yishsera'e֔l ha֥yetah zּo֖'t bּeyishsera'e֑l lehipּaqe֥d hayּ֛om miyּishsera'e֖l shshe֥bet 'echaֽd׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"The LORD, the God of Israel," they cried, "why has this happened to Israel? Why should one tribe be missing from Israel today?"

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ לָמָ֗ה יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הָ֥יְתָה זֹּ֖את בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְהִפָּקֵ֥ד הַיּ֛וֹם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שֵׁ֥בֶט אֶחָֽד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vaֽyehiy֙ miֽmּachora֔t vayּashshekּi֣ymu ha'a֔m vayּibenu-shsha֖m mizebּe֑cha vayּa'al֥u 'ol֖ot ushshelamiֽym׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)Early the next day the people built an altar and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.

וַֽיְהִי֙ מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ הָעָ֔ם וַיִּבְנוּ־שָׁ֖ם מִזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיַּעֲל֥וּ עֹל֖וֹת וּשְׁלָמִֽים׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּoֽ'meru֙ bּene֣y yishsera'e֔l mi֠y 'ashshe֨r lo'-'ala֧h baqּaha֛l mikּal-shshibete֥y yishsera'e֖l 'el-yehva֑h kּiy֩ hashshּebu'a֨h hagּedola֜h hayeta֗h la֠'ashsher lo'-'ala֨h 'el-yehva֧h hamּitzepּa֛h le'mo֖r m֥ot yumaֽt׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then the Israelites asked, "Which of all the tribes of Israel failed to assemble before the LORD?" For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to assemble before the LORD at Mizpah should certainly be put to death.

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִ֠י אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־עָלָ֧ה בַקָּהָ֛ל מִכָּל־שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה כִּי֩ הַשְּׁבוּעָ֨ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֜ה הָיְתָ֗ה לַ֠אֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָלָ֨ה אֶל־יְהוָ֧ה הַמִּצְפָּ֛ה לֵאמֹ֖ר מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּinּaֽchamu֙ bּene֣y yishsera'e֔l 'el-bּineyami֖n 'achi֑yv vayּo֣'mer֔u nigedּa֥ hayּ֛om shshe֥bet 'echa֖d miyּishsera'eֽl׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Now the Israelites grieved for the tribe of Benjamin, their fellow Israelites. "Today one tribe is cut off from Israel," they said.

וַיִּנָּֽחֲמוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־בִּנְיָמִ֖ן אָחִ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ נִגְדַּ֥ע הַיּ֛וֹם שֵׁ֥בֶט אֶחָ֖ד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): mah-nּa'ashse֥h lahe֛m lanּotari֖ym lenashshi֑ym va'ana֨chenu֙ nishshebּa֣'enu baֽyhva֔h lebiletּi֛y tּet-lahe֥m mibּenote֖ynu lenashshiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"How can we provide wives for those who are left, since we have taken an oath by the LORD not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?"

מַה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם לַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים לְנָשִׁ֑ים וַאֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ נִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּ בַֽיהוָ֔ה לְבִלְתִּ֛י תֵּת־לָהֶ֥ם מִבְּנוֹתֵ֖ינוּ לְנָשִֽׁים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer֔u mi֗y 'echad֙ mishshּibete֣y yishsera'e֔l 'ashshe֛r loֽ'-'ala֥h 'el-yehva֖h hamּitzepּa֑h ve֠hinּeh lo֣ ba'-'i֧yshsh 'el-haֽmּachane֛h miyּabe֥yshsh gּile'a֖d 'el-haqּahaֽl׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then they asked, "Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to assemble before the LORD at Mizpah?" They discovered that no one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the camp for the assembly.

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מִ֗י אֶחָד֙ מִשִּׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־עָלָ֥ה אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה וְ֠הִנֵּה לֹ֣א בָא־אִ֧ישׁ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה מִיָּבֵ֥ישׁ גִּלְעָ֖ד אֶל־הַקָּהָֽל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּitepּaqe֖d ha'a֑m vehinּe֤h 'eֽyn-shsham֙ 'i֔yshsh miyּoshshebe֖y yabe֥shsh gּile'aֽd׃

Edified Edition (EDE)For when they counted the people, they found that none of the people of Jabesh Gilead was there.

וַיִּתְפָּקֵ֖ד הָעָ֑ם וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֵֽין־שָׁם֙ אִ֔ישׁ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֖י יָבֵ֥שׁ גִּלְעָֽד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshelechu-shsha֣m ha'eda֗h shsheneym-'ashsa֥r 'e֛lep 'i֖yshsh mibּene֣y hecha֑yil vayetzau֨u 'ota֜m le'mo֗r le֠ku vehikּiyte֞m 'et-yoshshebe֨y yabe֤shsh gּile'ad֙ lepiy-che֔reb vehanּashshi֖ym vehatּaֽp׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So the assembly sent twelve thousand fighting men with instructions to go to Jabesh Gilead and put to the sword those living there, including the women and children.

וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ־שָׁ֣ם הָעֵדָ֗ה שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֣י הֶחָ֑יִל וַיְצַוּ֨וּ אוֹתָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר לְ֠כוּ וְהִכִּיתֶ֞ם אֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֨י יָבֵ֤שׁ גִּלְעָד֙ לְפִי־חֶ֔רֶב וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְהַטָּֽף׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veze֥h hadּaba֖r 'ashshe֣r tּa'ashs֑u kּal-zaka֗r vekal-'ishshּa֛h yoda֥'at mishshekּab-zaka֖r tּachariֽymu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"This is what you are to do," they said. "Kill every male and every woman who is not a virgin."

וְזֶ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ כָּל־זָכָ֗ר וְכָל־אִשָּׁ֛ה יֹדַ֥עַת מִשְׁכַּב־זָכָ֖ר תַּחֲרִֽימוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vaֽyּimetze'֞u miyּoshshebe֣y ׀ yabe֣yshsh gּile'a֗d 'arebּa֤ me'ot֙ na'ara֣h betula֔h 'ashshe֧r loֽ'-yade'a֛h 'i֖yshsh lemishshekּa֣b zaka֑r vayּabi֨y'u 'ota֤m 'el-haֽmּachaneh֙ shshilo֔h 'ashshe֖r bּe'e֥retz kּenaֽ'an׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)They found among the people living in Jabesh Gilead four hundred young women who had never slept with a man, and they took them to the camp at Shiloh in Canaan.

וַֽיִּמְצְא֞וּ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֣י ׀ יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֗ד אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ נַעֲרָ֣ה בְתוּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יָדְעָ֛ה אִ֖ישׁ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב זָכָ֑ר וַיָּבִ֨יאוּ אוֹתָ֤ם אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ שִׁלֹ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vaֽyּishshelechu֙ kּal-ha֣'eda֔h vaֽyedabּeru֙ 'el-bּene֣y bineyami֔n 'ashshe֖r bּese֣la rimּ֑on vayּiqere'֥u lahe֖m shshalֽom׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then the whole assembly sent an offer of peace to the Benjamites at the Rock of Rimmon.

וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַֽיְדַבְּרוּ֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּסֶ֣לַע רִמּ֑וֹן וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם שָׁלֽוֹם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֤shshab bּineyamin֙ bּa'e֣t hahi֔y vayּitּen֤u lahem֙ hanּashshi֔ym 'ashshe֣r chiyּ֔u minּeshshe֖y yabe֣shsh gּile'a֑d veloֽ'-matze'֥u lahe֖m kּeֽn׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So the Benjamites returned at that time and were given the women of Jabesh Gilead who had been spared. But there were not enough for all of them.

וַיָּ֤שָׁב בִּנְיָמִן֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ הַנָּשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר חִיּ֔וּ מִנְּשֵׁ֖י יָבֵ֣שׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד וְלֹֽא־מָצְא֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם כֵּֽן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veha'a֥m nicha֖m lebineyami֑n kּiֽy-'ashsa֧h yehva֛h pּe֖retz bּeshshibete֥y yishsera'eֽl׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The people grieved for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a gap in the tribes of Israel.

וְהָעָ֥ם נִחָ֖ם לְבִנְיָמִ֑ן כִּֽי־עָשָׂ֧ה יְהוָ֛ה פֶּ֖רֶץ בְּשִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּoֽ'mer֨u ziqene֣y ha'eda֔h mah-nּa'ashse֥h lanּotari֖ym lenashshi֑ym kּiֽy-nishshemeda֥h mibּineyami֖n 'ishshּaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)And the elders of the assembly said, "With the women of Benjamin destroyed, how shall we provide wives for the men who are left?

וַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּ זִקְנֵ֣י הָעֵדָ֔ה מַה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים לְנָשִׁ֑ים כִּֽי־נִשְׁמְדָ֥ה מִבִּנְיָמִ֖ן אִשָּֽׁה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer֔u yerushshּa֥t pּeleyta֖h lebineyami֑n veloֽ'-yimּache֥h shshe֖bet miyּishsera'eֽl׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The Benjamite survivors must have heirs," they said, "so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out.

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ יְרֻשַּׁ֥ת פְּלֵיטָ֖ה לְבִנְיָמִ֑ן וְלֹֽא־יִמָּחֶ֥ה שֵׁ֖בֶט מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ana֗chenu lo֥ nuka֛l latet-lahe֥m nashshi֖ym mibּenote֑ynu kּiֽy-nishshebּe'֤u beneֽy-yishsera'el֙ le'mo֔r 'ar֕ur note֥n 'ishshּa֖h lebineyamiֽn׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)We can’t give them our daughters as wives, since we Israelites have taken this oath: 'Cursed be anyone who gives a wife to a Benjamite.'

וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ לֹ֥א נוּכַ֛ל לָתֵת־לָהֶ֥ם נָשִׁ֖ים מִבְּנוֹתֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־נִשְׁבְּע֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אָר֕וּר נֹתֵ֥ן אִשָּׁ֖ה לְבִנְיָמִֽן׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'mer֡u hinּeh֩ chag-yehva֨h bּeshshil֜o miyּami֣ym ׀ yami֗ymah 'ashshe֞r mitzּep֤onah lebeֽyt-'el֙ mizerecha֣h hashshּe֔meshsh limesilּa֔h ha'ola֥h mibּeֽyt-'e֖l shsheke֑mah uminּe֖geb lilebonaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But look, there is the annual festival of the LORD in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, east of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah."

וַיֹּאמְר֡וּ הִנֵּה֩ חַג־יְהוָ֨ה בְּשִׁל֜וֹ מִיָּמִ֣ים ׀ יָמִ֗ימָה אֲשֶׁ֞ר מִצְּפ֤וֹנָה לְבֵֽית־אֵל֙ מִזְרְחָ֣ה הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ לִמְסִלָּ֔ה הָעֹלָ֥ה מִבֵּֽית־אֵ֖ל שְׁכֶ֑מָה וּמִנֶּ֖גֶב לִלְבוֹנָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vytzv vayetzau֕u 'et-bּene֥y bineyami֖n le'mo֑r lek֖u va'arabetּe֥m bּakּeramiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So they instructed the Benjamites, saying, "Go and hide in the vineyards

ויצו וַיְצַוּ֕וּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר לְכ֖וּ וַאֲרַבְתֶּ֥ם בַּכְּרָמִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ure'iyte֗m ve֠hinּeh 'im-ye֨tze'֥u benot-shshiylo֮ lach֣ul bּamּecholot֒ viֽytza'tem֙ min-hakּerami֔ym vachatapetּe֥m lake֛m 'i֥yshsh 'ishshetּ֖o mibּen֣ot shshiyl֑o vahalaketּe֖m 'e֥retz bּineyamiֽn׃

Edified Edition (EDE)and watch. When the young women of Shiloh come out to join in the dancing, rush from the vineyards and each of you seize one of them to be your wife. Then return to the land of Benjamin.

וּרְאִיתֶ֗ם וְ֠הִנֵּה אִם־יֵ֨צְא֥וּ בְנוֹת־שִׁילוֹ֮ לָח֣וּל בַּמְּחֹלוֹת֒ וִֽיצָאתֶם֙ מִן־הַכְּרָמִ֔ים וַחֲטַפְתֶּ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם אִ֥ישׁ אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ מִבְּנ֣וֹת שִׁיל֑וֹ וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֖ם אֶ֥רֶץ בִּנְיָמִֽן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehaya֡h kּiֽy-yabo֣'u 'abotam֩ '֨o 'acheyhe֜m lrvb lari֣yb ׀ 'ele֗ynu ve'ama֤renu 'aleyhem֙ chanּ֣unu 'ota֔m kּi֣y lo֥ laqa֛chenu 'i֥yshsh 'ishshetּ֖o bּamּilechama֑h kּi֣y lo֥ 'atּe֛m netatּe֥m lahe֖m kּa'e֥t tּe'eshshaֽmu׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)When their fathers or brothers complain to us, we will say to them, 'Do us a kindness by helping them, because we did not get wives for them during the war. Since you did not give your daughters to them, you are not guilty of breaking your oath.'"

וְהָיָ֡ה כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣אוּ אֲבוֹתָם֩ א֨וֹ אֲחֵיהֶ֜ם לרוב לָרִ֣יב ׀ אֵלֵ֗ינוּ וְאָמַ֤רְנוּ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ חָנּ֣וּנוּ אוֹתָ֔ם כִּ֣י לֹ֥א לָקַ֛חְנוּ אִ֥ישׁ אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה כִּ֣י לֹ֥א אַתֶּ֛ם נְתַתֶּ֥ם לָהֶ֖ם כָּעֵ֥ת תֶּאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּaֽ'ashsu-ken֙ bּene֣y bineyami֔n vayּishse'֤u nashshiym֙ lemisepּara֔m min-hamּecholel֖ot 'ashshe֣r gּaza֑lu vayּelek֗u vayּashsh֨ubu֙ 'el-na֣chalata֔m vayּibenu֙ 'et-he֣'ari֔ym vayּeshsheb֖u bּaheֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So that is what the Benjamites did. While the young women were dancing, each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife. Then they returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and settled in them.

וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן וַיִּשְׂא֤וּ נָשִׁים֙ לְמִסְפָּרָ֔ם מִן־הַמְּחֹלְל֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּזָ֑לוּ וַיֵּלְכ֗וּ וַיָּשׁ֨וּבוּ֙ אֶל־נַ֣חֲלָתָ֔ם וַיִּבְנוּ֙ אֶת־הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ בָּהֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּitehalּek֨u mishshּa֤m bּeneֽy-yishsera'el֙ bּa'e֣t hahi֔y 'i֥yshsh leshshibet֖o ulemishshepּachetּ֑o vayּetze'֣u mishshּa֔m 'i֖yshsh lenachalatֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)At that time the Israelites left that place and went home to their tribes and clans, each to his own inheritance.

וַיִּתְהַלְּכ֨וּ מִשָּׁ֤ם בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא אִ֥ישׁ לְשִׁבְט֖וֹ וּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹ וַיֵּצְא֣וּ מִשָּׁ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ לְנַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): bּayּami֣ym hahe֔m 'e֥yn me֖leke bּeyishsera'e֑l 'i֛yshsh hayּashsha֥r bּe'eyna֖yv ya'ashseֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם אֵ֥ין מֶ֖לֶךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִ֛ישׁ הַיָּשָׁ֥ר בְּעֵינָ֖יו יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃