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More Judges commentaries
Judges 18:1-11
The Danites Search for New Territory
Judges 18:12-31
The Danites Seize Laish
Judges 19:1-10
The Desertion of the Levite Concubine
Judges 19:11-21
Full Hospitality for Weary Travelers
Judges 19:22-30
The Results of Sexual Perversion
Judges 20:1-11
Judgment Must be Rendered
Judges 20:12-23
God’s Law Commanded Death
Judges 20:24-35
The Horrors of a Civil War
Judges 20:36-48
Tricked into Surrender
Judges 21:1-12
The Remorse of the Israelites
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The Remorse of the Israelites
Judges 21:1–12
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Kay Arthur, a well known author and speaker, tells how she and her husband were constantly having problems, so finally, she left him. Time after time he called and pleaded with her to come back, but she refused. Finally, he threatened suicide, & she told him, “Go ahead, … More
A spirit of reconciliation set in almost as soon as the war ended. In the heat of conflict Israel had made a rash vow that she would never again permit inter-marriage with Benjamin (v. 1). If strictly observed this would have eliminated this tribe. With the Israelites a vow once made, even if it was rash could not be revoked; so the people weep before God at His sanctuary in Bethel (vv. 2-4). At about the same time the remembrance of another vow suggested a possible way out of their dilemma (vv. 5-8). This vow taken at Mizpah before the battle with the Benjamites was against any tribe that failed to support this war. It was revealed that the people of Jabesh-Gilead had refused to cooperate in the battle (v. 9). Thus a plan was made to “kill two birds with one stone”.
The schemes that followed were certainly not God ordained. An army of 12,000 men were sent to destroy Jabesh-Gilead in fulfillment of the oath, and at the same time all the virgins would be seized and turned over to the Benjaminite men for wives (vv. 10-12). The vengeance brought upon the people of Jabesh-Gilead was merciless. All but their young maidens were ruthlessly butchered. It seems that Israel was acting on the premise that the end justifies the means. She was more distressed about her threatened national dismemberment than about her separation from God. It is easy to lose our spiritual perspective and be more upset about people, places and things than about our own personal walk with the Lord.
Application
It is very easy to get so busy in the work of the Lord that I neglect the Word of the Lord. It is amazing but the Lord desires to have fellowship with me and wants me to spend time with Him.
Judges 21:1-12 (English Standard Version)
Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, "No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin." And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. And they said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?" And the next day the people rose early and built there an altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?" For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death." And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?" And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah?" And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly. For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there. So the congregation sent 12,000 of their bravest men there and commanded them, "Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword; also the women and the little ones. This is what you shall do: every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction." And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
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