Judges 21:1-3
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 21
Ensuring a Future for Benjamin. 1 [a]The men of Israel took an oath at Mizpah: “None of us will give his daughter in marriage to anyone from Benjamin.” 2 So the people went to Bethel and remained there before God until evening, raising their voices in bitter weeping.(A) 3 They said, “Lord, God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel that today one tribe of Israel should be lacking?”
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- 21:1–7 The victorious Israelites now become concerned about the survival of the tribe they have defeated. Despite the large number of Benjaminites killed in the final battle (20:46) and the general carnage that followed (20:48), there does not seem to be a shortage of men. The problem is rather a shortage of wives for the surviving men, the result of a previously unmentioned vow the Israelites took not to permit their daughters to marry Benjaminites.
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