Judges 21 23

Judges 21:23 kjv

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 21:23 nkjv

And the children of Benjamin did so; they took enough wives for their number from those who danced, whom they caught. Then they went and returned to their inheritance, and they rebuilt the cities and dwelt in them.

Judges 21:23 niv

So that is what the Benjamites did. While the young women were dancing, each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife. Then they returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and settled in them.

Judges 21:23 esv

And the people of Benjamin did so and took their wives, according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried off. Then they went and returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and lived in them.

Judges 21:23 nlt

So the men of Benjamin did as they were told. Each man caught one of the women as she danced in the celebration and carried her off to be his wife. They returned to their own land, and they rebuilt their towns and lived in them.

Judges 21 verses

Judges 21 23 Meaning

The verse concludes the extraordinary events surrounding the tribe of Benjamin, depicting how the remaining men secured wives after a prior oath prevented the other Israelite tribes from giving their daughters to them. It details that the Benjamites followed the elders' plan: they seized young women dancing at a festival in Shiloh to take as wives according to their number. After acquiring their wives by this forceful method, the Benjamites returned to their tribal inheritance, rebuilt their devastated cities, and settled in them, thereby re-establishing their presence and preventing their extinction as a tribe within Israel.

Judges 21 23 Context

Judges chapter 21 concludes the grim narrative spanning Judges 19-21, a passage often considered the darkest in the book due to the extreme moral decay depicted. The context begins with a horrific atrocity committed by men of Benjamin in Gibeah (Jdg 19), leading to a civil war where the other eleven tribes of Israel nearly annihilated the tribe of Benjamin (Jdg 20). Following this devastation, the Israelites swore an oath not to give their daughters as wives to the surviving 600 Benjamite men (Jdg 21:1). Facing the impending extinction of a tribe within Israel, the elders devised a plan to circumvent their oath while allowing Benjamin to repopulate. They orchestrated a festival at Shiloh and secretly instructed the Benjamites to seize women dancing there (Jdg 21:19-22). This verse describes the implementation and immediate outcome of this problematic "solution," highlighting the depths to which Israel had fallen, where pragmatic ends justified morally dubious means. The repeated refrain, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 17:6, 21:25), powerfully underscores the prevailing anarchy and moral relativism that shaped such events.

Judges 21 23 Word analysis

• And the children of Benjamin: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן, Bene Binyamin) Refers to the male descendants of Benjamin, specifically the surviving men who needed wives to ensure the tribe's continuation. The phrase highlights the collective action and the preservation of a tribal identity that was almost extinguished.
• did so: Indicates compliance with the plan formulated by the elders of Israel (Jdg 21:18-22). It reflects obedience to the tribal leadership, even when the method was questionable.
• and took wives: (Hebrew: וַיִּקְחוּ לָהֶם נָשִׁים, wa-yiq'hu lahem nashim) Literally, "and they took for themselves women." The verb "took" (lakakh) is commonly used for legitimate marriage in the Bible. However, here it's coupled with "whom they caught," indicating a forced acquisition, deviating sharply from normative, consensual marriage practices.
• according to their number: Signifies that each of the 600 surviving Benjamite men obtained a wife. This specific detail emphasizes the systematic nature of the action and its objective: to provide a wife for every remaining man to ensure the tribe's future.
• of them that danced: (Hebrew: מִן הַמְּחוֹלְלֹת, min ha-mechol'lot) "From those who were dancing" or "the dancing ones." These were young women participating in a celebratory festival, likely the Feast of the Lord in Shiloh, characterized by joyous, perhaps liturgical, dancing. Their innocent, celebratory state made them vulnerable.
• whom they caught: (Hebrew: וַיַּחְפְּשׂוּ, wa-yih'pesu) More accurately "and they seized/abducted." The verb haphaz means to grasp or catch. This directly indicates the use of force, coercion, and lack of consent, framing the action as an abduction or kidnapping rather than an consensual union or lawful taking.
• and they went and returned: Marks the physical movement away from Shiloh and back to their original territorial allocation. This is a crucial step towards re-establishing their lives within their designated inheritance.
• unto their inheritance: (Hebrew: אֶל נַחֲלָתָם, el nachalatām) Refers to the specific geographical area allotted to the tribe of Benjamin during the distribution of the land of Canaan (Josh 18:11-28). It signifies their re-occupancy of God-given territory despite their prior actions and near-extinction.
• and repaired the cities: (Hebrew: וַיִּבְנוּ אֶת הֶעָרִים, wa-yivnu et he'arim) "And they built the cities." This indicates active rebuilding of structures that had been destroyed during the civil war. It suggests a process of physical and social reconstruction, transforming devastated settlements into habitable communities.
• and dwelt in them: (Hebrew: וַיֵּשְׁבוּ בָּהֶם, wa-yeishevu bahem) "And they settled/dwelt in them." This signifies the establishment of permanent residence and the resumption of normal life within their rehabilitated cities. It implies stability and the beginnings of renewed growth for the tribe.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the children of Benjamin did so, and took wives according to their number": This phrase describes the execution of a strategic plan by the remaining members of the Benjaminite tribe. It emphasizes their need to replenish their ranks to prevent extinction, showing a pragmatic and almost military precision in obtaining spouses.
• "of them that danced whom they caught": This highlights the highly problematic and morally indefensible method of wife acquisition. It specifically points to the women's vulnerable situation (dancing at a festival) and the forceful, non-consensual nature of the "taking," essentially an act of abduction. The contrast between joyful celebration and violent seizure underscores the spiritual depravity of the age.
• "and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them": This final section describes the positive, rehabilitative outcome from the perspective of the tribe's survival. It signifies the physical and territorial re-establishment of Benjamin, their return to their divinely appointed land, and the rebuilding of their communal life. This resolution secures their place among the twelve tribes, even though the means were deeply flawed.

Judges 21 23 Bonus section

The fact that this event transpired in Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was located, adds a layer of tragic irony. A place consecrated for the worship of Yahweh became the site of a mass abduction, showcasing how deep the moral corruption had become within Israel, blurring the lines between sacred space and human depravity. This pragmatic solution to the Benjamite crisis stands in stark contrast to the legal, covenantal, and ethical ideals God had established for His people, particularly concerning women and marriage. The elders of Israel permitted and even facilitated this act, choosing human expediency over divine righteousness, further highlighting the widespread breakdown of moral authority and legal adherence during the time of the Judges.

Judges 21 23 Commentary

Judges 21:23 provides the resolution to the Benjamin crisis, detailing the success of the morally questionable plan to secure wives for the remaining Benjamite men. On one hand, the verse illustrates a return to normalcy and a pragmatic victory for the tribes of Israel, as one of their twelve members was saved from extinction. The Benjamites successfully acquired wives, repopulated their inheritance, rebuilt their cities, and re-established their communities. This restoration was vital for the continuation of God's covenant with Israel through all its tribes. However, this seemingly positive outcome is tainted by the sinful means employed. The "taking" of wives was an act of abduction, a violent violation of the dignity and autonomy of the women from Shiloh. This starkly contradicts God's intentions for marriage (Gen 2:24; Eph 5:25) and basic principles of justice. The situation is a powerful testament to the chaos of a period where there was "no king in Israel" and "every man did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 21:25). It showcases human desperation leading to compromise of divine law and moral decay, even in the pursuit of a perceived good (saving a tribe). The resolution highlights that even when God's greater purposes unfold, they can do so amidst profound human failure and sin, underscoring the spiritual vacuum of the era that desperately needed righteous leadership and a true adherence to divine law.