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Bible Chapter Summary

Judges 21 Summary

Wives for the Tribe of Benjamin

Grieved that a tribe is nearly cut off, Israel must provide wives for Benjamin's survivors without breaking their oath at Mizpeh not to give their daughters. They destroy Jabesh-gilead, which had not joined the assembly, sparing four hundred virgins for the Benjamites. Still short, they allow Benjamin to seize wives from the daughters of Shiloh dancing at the yearly feast. Benjamin rebuilds and resettles, and the book closes: in those days there was no king in Israel, and every man did what was right in his own eyes.

Key themes

Restoration of a tribeRash oathsLawlessnessNo king in Israel

Key verses

Judges 21:14

And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.

Judges 21:23

And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.

Judges 21:25

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

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