Judges 21 15

Judges 21:15 kjv

And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

Judges 21:15 nkjv

And the people grieved for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a void in the tribes of Israel.

Judges 21:15 niv

The people grieved for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a gap in the tribes of Israel.

Judges 21:15 esv

And the people had compassion on Benjamin because the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

Judges 21:15 nlt

The people felt sorry for Benjamin because the LORD had made this gap among the tribes of Israel.

Judges 21 verses

Judges 21 15 Meaning

Judges 21:15 states that the Israelite assembly grieved deeply for the tribe of Benjamin, recognizing that the Lord had caused a severe breach within the unity of the twelve tribes. Their sorrow stemmed from the near annihilation of Benjamin due to the civil war, which had severely diminished one of God's covenant tribes. This verse highlights a moment of repentance and lament by the people, acknowledging divine sovereignty in the consequences of their actions and the near irreparable damage inflicted upon the foundational structure of Israel.

Judges 21 15 Context

Judges chapter 21 concludes one of the most tragic and violent narratives in the Bible, encompassing chapters 19-21. This segment details a horrific atrocity in Gibeah of Benjamin, leading to a civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel. The previous chapter, Judges 20, describes the other tribes uniting against Benjamin, resulting in Benjamin's near extinction; only 600 men survived. The present verse (21:15) occurs after the Israelites realized the dire consequence of their actions—a whole tribe of Israel was almost lost. They had sworn an oath at Mizpah not to give their daughters in marriage to Benjamin (21:1). This verse expresses their collective remorse and anguish over the potentially irreparable damage to the Israelite confederacy. The overall historical context is the period of the Judges, marked by moral decay, absence of central leadership, and a cycle of sin, oppression, deliverance, and apostasy. The repeated phrase "in those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 17:6; 21:25) underscores the anarchy and self-governance that led to such extreme acts.

Judges 21 15 Word analysis

• And the people: Refers to the collective assembly of the remaining eleven tribes of Israel. This signifies a national, corporate grief and reflection, rather than individual sorrow. It implies their collective realization of the devastating impact of their actions.
• grieved: Hebrew wayyinnaḥămu (וַיִּנָּחֲמוּ), from the root nāḥam. While often translated as "to be comforted" or "to repent," in this context, it carries the strong sense of sorrow, regret, and heartfelt compassion. It signifies a profound emotional shift from anger and punitive judgment to deep lamentation over the outcome. This indicates a genuine, if belated, recognition of the tragedy.
• for Benjamin: Their grief is specifically directed towards the remnants of the tribe of Benjamin. The extent of the decimation and the potential loss of an entire Israelite tribe are the direct causes of their profound sorrow.
• because: This conjunction explains the immediate and profound reason for their grief, linking their emotional response directly to a theological understanding of the event.
• the Lord: Hebrew YHWH (יְהוָה). The covenant name for God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel. By attributing the "breach" to the Lord, the Israelites acknowledged God's sovereignty even over the terrible consequences of their own sin and actions. This isn't God actively causing their sin, but rather orchestrating or allowing the fallout as part of His sovereign will or judgment. It reveals a theological understanding that national events, even devastating ones, are ultimately under God's watchful eye and plan.
• had made a breach: Hebrew pāraṣ perets (פֶּרֶץ). Perets literally means a "breach," "rupture," or "break-in," often with destructive connotations. The verb pāraṣ means "to burst out," "break through," or "make a breach." The use of this strong word highlights a profound tearing or breaking within the very fabric of Israel. It suggests an act of division or devastation. This was not merely a loss of population, but a tearing of the divinely ordained twelve-tribe structure, signifying a profound spiritual and national wound.
• in the tribes of Israel: Refers to the divinely established structure and identity of the nation. The twelve tribes represented the completeness and wholeness of God's people, originating from Jacob's twelve sons. A breach in one tribe was a wound to the entire national body, affecting their communal identity, worship, and future.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the people grieved for Benjamin": This phrase emphasizes the collective sorrow of the nation. It highlights a critical shift in perspective from zealous judgment to profound remorse. The act of "grieving" suggests repentance and compassion for their 'brother' Benjamin, reflecting a belated sense of tribal solidarity and regret over the war's severity.
• "because the Lord had made a breach": This crucial clause attributes the calamitous situation to divine action or permission. It signifies that the Israelites understood God's sovereign hand at play, not as an arbitrary punishment but as the inevitable consequence or outcome of the national breakdown, disobedience, and severe inter-tribal conflict. The "breach" symbolizes a tearing of the fabric of Israelite unity and potentially their covenant identity. This highlights a theological recognition of divine judgment and sovereignty, where God's ultimate purpose allows for painful lessons through human actions and their consequences.
• "in the tribes of Israel": This phrase emphasizes the impact on the entire nation. It underscores the severity of the crisis, indicating that the conflict had damaged the very essence of their corporate identity as the people of God, designed to be united under His covenant. The survival and integrity of all twelve tribes were central to God's promises and the future of Israel.

Judges 21 15 Bonus section

The concept of God "making a breach" is not necessarily active causation of the people's sin, but rather His sovereign allowance or judgment resulting from Israel's disobedience and moral depravity. This theological perspective ensures that even in chaos, God remains in control and uses such events to fulfill His ultimate purposes, sometimes by exposing sin or initiating painful discipline for a greater future restoration. The deep sense of grief in Judges 21:15 paved the way for the desperate measures taken in the rest of the chapter (seizing wives from Jabesh-Gilead and Shiloh), highlighting the extent to which the Israelites were willing to go to prevent a divine covenant promise (of the twelve tribes) from failing. This shows their struggle to align human actions with divine purpose even when those actions are morally ambiguous, underscoring the deep spiritual and leadership crisis of the Judges period.

Judges 21 15 Commentary

Judges 21:15 encapsulates the tragic climax of a dark period in Israel's history, highlighting the deep lament and profound regret of the Israelite people. After their violent but divinely sanctioned war against Benjamin, spurred by an unspeakable crime, they faced the devastating reality of nearly wiping out one of God's own covenant tribes. The sorrow described in this verse signifies a belated but vital moment of reflection. The people acknowledged not merely human error or misfortune, but the sovereign hand of the Lord in the catastrophe. The "breach" (Hebrew: perets) was a wound to the very integrity of the twelve-tribe confederacy, a sacred and divinely established structure. This verse implicitly underlines that even in times of profound human failing and societal chaos, God's ultimate sovereignty is recognized. Their grief also revealed a moral and spiritual awakening to the cost of unchecked vengeance and the dangers of a society where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 21:25). It served as a stark lesson on the fragility of unity and the dire consequences of disobedience. The dilemma faced by Israel was not just the military defeat of Benjamin, but the tearing of the covenant bond that made them one nation under God. The verse underscores God’s governance even in tragic consequences.Examples: This concept applies when believers reflect on the consequences of disunity in churches, recognizing the harm caused to the body of Christ (a spiritual 'breach'). Similarly, individuals might grieve for lost opportunities or fractured relationships, acknowledging how God, in His sovereignty, allowed certain painful outcomes to manifest, often as a result of earlier choices or compromises.