Judges 21 20

Judges 21:20 kjv

Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;

Judges 21:20 nkjv

Therefore they instructed the children of Benjamin, saying, "Go, lie in wait in the vineyards,

Judges 21:20 niv

So they instructed the Benjamites, saying, "Go and hide in the vineyards

Judges 21:20 esv

And they commanded the people of Benjamin, saying, "Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards

Judges 21:20 nlt

They told the men of Benjamin who still needed wives, "Go and hide in the vineyards.

Judges 21 verses

Judges 21 20 Meaning

Judges 21:20 describes the command given by the leading Israelites to the surviving men of Benjamin. This instruction directs the Benjaminite men to go and hide stealthily in the vineyards. Their purpose for lying in wait was to ambush the young women of Shiloh when they came out to dance during an annual feast of the Lord, thereby seizing them as wives. This plan was a desperate human measure to prevent the extinction of the tribe of Benjamin, a consequence of an oath the other tribes had made.

Judges 21 20 Context

Judges 21:20 is situated at the climax of one of the most disturbing narratives in the Book of Judges, chronicling the moral and spiritual decay of Israel "in those days when there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 21:25). The preceding chapters detail a horrific incident: the rape and murder of a Levite's concubine by men of Gibeah in Benjamin, leading to a civil war that nearly annihilated the tribe of Benjamin. Following their devastating victory, the other Israelite tribes grieved Benjamin's near extinction and repented, vowing to prevent the loss of a tribe from Israel. However, they faced a critical dilemma: they had sworn an oath at Mizpah not to give any of their daughters to the men of Benjamin as wives (Jdg 21:1, 18).

To bypass this oath, the tribes first arranged for the capture of 400 virgins from Jabesh-Gilead (who had not participated in the war), but this was insufficient for the surviving 600 Benjaminite men. Judges 21:20 introduces the second and more audacious plan: a pre-meditated abduction of young women from Shiloh. This verse sets up the details for this strategic maneuver during a religious festival, highlighting the depth to which the nation had fallen in forsaking divine law for human expedience and twisted solutions. The context underscores a desperate attempt to reconcile a rash oath with the desire to preserve a segment of Israel.

Judges 21 20 Word analysis

• And they commanded (וַיְצַוּ֞וּ - vayyəṣawwū):

  • Word: The root צוה (tsavah) signifies issuing an authoritative instruction or decree.
  • Significance: It emphasizes that this was not a suggestion but a formal directive from the assembled leaders of Israel to the remaining men of Benjamin. This "command" highlights the collective responsibility and decision-making behind a plan that diverged significantly from established marital customs.

• the children of Benjamin (בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ין - bənê ḇinəyāmîn):

  • Word: "Children" here refers to the adult male survivors.
  • Significance: Identifies the specific recipients of the command. They were the very men whose ancestors’ actions had brought their tribe to the brink of annihilation, yet now their preservation became a national concern. This emphasizes their status as the remnant of the tribe.

• saying (לֵאמֹ֑ר - lēʾmōr):

  • Word: A common Hebrew particle introducing direct speech or an explanation.
  • Significance: Signals that what follows is the exact instruction given.

• Go (לְכוּ - ləḵū):

  • Word: Plural imperative form of הָלַךְ (halak) - to walk, go.
  • Significance: A direct command for immediate action, reinforcing the authority behind the instruction.

• and lie in wait (וַאֲרַבְתֶּ֥ם - waʾăraḇtem):

  • Word: From the root ארב ('arab) - to ambush, lie in wait, waylay.
  • Significance: This term carries connotations of stealth, cunning, and aggressive seizure, typically used in military contexts for ambushing an enemy (e.g., Josh 8:2, 4, Jdg 9:34). Its use here for obtaining wives reveals the highly unconventional, deceptive, and violent nature of the proposed "solution" to their problem, far removed from standard marriage practices involving courtship, betrothal, and familial consent.

• in the vineyards (בַּכְּרָמִֽים - bakərāmîm):

  • Word: בְּ (be-) "in" or "among," and כֶּרֶם (kerem) "vineyard."
  • Significance: Specifies the precise location for the ambush. Vineyards, often with trellises and foliage, would provide ideal cover for concealment. They were also common locations for communal gatherings, especially during harvests or feasts, where people might sing, dance, and celebrate. This makes it a strategic and believable hiding spot given the context of a feast. The choice of vineyards also reflects agricultural cycles tied to the annual feast.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying": This phrase underlines the tribal leaders' desperate attempt to solve a profound societal crisis. Their "command" for an abduction, rather than a just and God-ordained solution, reveals the depth of Israel's spiritual decline where expediency outweighed moral principle. The authority wielded here is one born of human logic, not divine wisdom.
  • "Go and lie in wait in the vineyards": This segment highlights the calculated, almost militaristic, approach to obtaining wives. The combination of "go" (direct action) and "lie in wait" (deception, ambush) juxtaposed with "vineyards" (a place often associated with joy and celebration during feasts) paints a stark picture of the moral compromise being endorsed by Israel's leadership. It speaks to a society where the rule of law and covenant relationship had deteriorated so much that this method became a sanctioned means of tribal preservation.

Judges 21 20 Bonus section

The annual "feast of the LORD in Shiloh" (mentioned in the surrounding verses like Jdg 21:19) adds another layer of tragic irony. Shiloh was a significant religious center, housing the tabernacle during this period, serving as the dwelling place for God among His people (Josh 18:1). A feast there would inherently be a time of solemn worship and rejoicing before God. To plan an ambush, particularly a non-consensual capture of women, at such a sacred gathering underscores the profound hypocrisy and spiritual blindness of the era. This act was committed in the shadow of God's sanctuary, reflecting how far Israel had drifted from His commands regarding justice, love, and respectful relationships. The irony is poignant: the very means used to uphold an ill-conceived oath involved violating other, more fundamental, principles of righteousness in a setting dedicated to worship. This incident stands as a profound commentary on the moral bankruptcy when divine standards are ignored and human expediency dictates action.

Judges 21 20 Commentary

Judges 21:20 unveils a morally perplexing directive from the Israelite leaders, a stark demonstration of the chaos and moral decay prevalent during the era of the Judges. Faced with the binding, albeit misguided, oath not to give their daughters to Benjamin, and a practical need to preserve a foundational tribe, they resorted to a strategy of sanctioned abduction. The command for Benjaminite men to "lie in wait in the vineyards" reflects a pragmatic solution driven by human desperation rather than divine principles. The very method, an ambush (a tactic usually employed in warfare), underscores the deep ethical compromises being made. While the preservation of a tribe might appear beneficial from a human standpoint, the means employed expose a profound departure from God's ideal for marriage and just societal conduct. This narrative is not a divine endorsement of such actions, but rather a chilling account of Israel’s spiritual wilderness, showcasing how people "did what was right in their own eyes," leading to morally dubious and regrettable choices even in their attempts to fulfill their religious obligations.