Add parallel Print Page Options

17 The[a] remnant of Benjamin must be preserved. An entire Israelite tribe should not be wiped out.[b] 18 But we can’t allow our daughters to marry them,[c] for the Israelites took an oath, saying, ‘Whoever gives a woman to a Benjaminite will be destroyed.’[d] 19 However, there is an annual festival to the Lord in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel (east of the main road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem) and south of Lebonah.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Judges 21:17 tn The Hebrew text has “and they said” at the beginning of the verse. For stylistic reasons the translation treats v. 17 as a continuation of the remarks of the leaders in v. 16.
  2. Judges 21:17 tn Heb “An inheritance for the remnant belonging to Benjamin, and a tribe from Israel will not be wiped away.” The first statement lacks a verb. Some prefer to emend the text to read, “How can an inheritance remain for the remnant of Benjamin?”
  3. Judges 21:18 tn Heb “But we are not able to give to them wives from our daughters.”
  4. Judges 21:18 tn Heb “is cursed.”