Judges 21 7

Judges 21:7 kjv

How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?

Judges 21:7 nkjv

What shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them our daughters as wives?"

Judges 21:7 niv

"How can we provide wives for those who are left, since we have taken an oath by the LORD not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?"

Judges 21:7 esv

What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?"

Judges 21:7 nlt

How can we find wives for the few who remain, since we have sworn by the LORD not to give them our daughters in marriage?"

Judges 21 verses

Judges 21 7 Meaning

Judges 21:7 captures the desperate plea of the Israelites after their punitive war against the tribe of Benjamin. It highlights their grave moral and practical dilemma: How can they ensure the survival of the remnant of Benjamin, their brothers, when they have collectively sworn a binding oath before the LORD not to give their own daughters as wives to any Benjamite? The verse conveys their deep regret and the immediate consequence of a rash and totalizing vow made in a moment of extreme zeal, now creating an impossible situation for tribal continuity within Israel.

Judges 21 7 Context

Judges 21:7 is situated in the tragic conclusion of the book of Judges, following two chapters that recount the appalling sin of Gibeah (Judges 19) and the brutal tribal war it ignited (Judges 20). The Israelites, united in their zeal against the wickedness of Benjamin, made a rash oath at Mizpah during the conflict: "None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin for a wife." Their victory over Benjamin was so devastating that only 600 Benjamite men survived, hiding in the wilderness. The entire tribe was nearly wiped out. The surviving tribes of Israel, overcome by remorse and the prospect of losing a tribal brother from their covenant community, suddenly recognized the irreparable damage their totalizing vow, made in a moment of vengeful passion, would cause. This verse articulates their collective lament and desperate search for a solution to their self-inflicted dilemma, grappling with the sacred obligation of their oath versus the existential crisis of a lost tribe within Israel, a critical part of God's people. This era in Israel was marked by a lack of central authority ("in those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes," Judges 21:25), leading to moral depravity and tragic misjudgments, which profoundly shape this narrative.

Judges 21 7 Word analysis

• How: Hebrew ’êḵ (אֵיךְ), an interrogative particle. It conveys not just a question of method, but deep bewilderment, despair, and perplexity. It emphasizes the profound problem and their utter lack of a straightforward solution.
• shall we do: Hebrew na‘ăśeh (נַעֲשֶׂה), a form of the verb ‘āśâ (עָשָׂה), meaning "to do," "make," or "perform." The reflexive nuance implies a problem that is "ours" to fix, a consequence of their own making. It suggests an active search for a plan or course of action.
• for wives: Hebrew nashim (נָשִׁים), "women," here specifically "wives." This highlights the practical need for the Benjamite men to perpetuate their lineage. The primary purpose is not personal pleasure but the survival of the tribal identity and line.
• for them that are left: Hebrew lanîḇālōṯ (לַנִּשְׁאָרֹת), refers to the remnant. The term niš’ārîm (נִשְׁאָרִים), "those who remain" or "survivors." This is critical as it emphasizes the small, desperate number of Benjamite men, whose very existence is at stake. The idea of a remnant in Scripture often points to divine preservation amidst judgment. Here, it’s a remnant due to self-inflicted near-annihilation.
• seeing: Implies "inasmuch as," "because." It connects the consequence (need for wives) directly to the cause (the binding oath).
• we have sworn: Hebrew nišbá‘nu (נִשְׁבַּעְנוּ), from the verb šāḇa‘ (שָׁבַע), "to swear," "take an oath." This word is central to the verse. An oath sworn before God was binding and irreversible in Israelite law. The term is associated with "seven" (sheba'), indicating completion and solemnity. It highlights their absolute commitment.
• by the LORD: Hebrew Yahweh (יְהוָה). The covenant name of God. Swearing by Yahweh meant invoking the divine presence and authority as a witness and guarantor of the oath. This makes the oath incredibly weighty and irreversible, distinguishing it from an ordinary promise. Violating such an oath carried severe divine judgment.
• that we will not give: Hebrew lō'-nitên (לֹא-נִתֵּן), from nāṯan (נָתַן), "to give." A definitive negative statement. The commitment not to give their daughters emphasizes the totality of their original pledge and their current predicament.
• them our daughters: Hebrew bnōṯênû (בְּנוֹתֵינוּ), "our daughters." The most immediate and direct means of procreation within their kin group. Their own flesh and blood. The oath directly impacts their families.
• to wives: Reinforces the specific purpose: for marriage, ensuring procreation and continuation of the lineage.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "How shall we do for wives": This phrase captures the immediate, desperate, and perplexing question. It implies an unforeseen complication arising from a seemingly righteous, yet ultimately rash, act. They realize they created a crisis.
• "for them that are left": This highlights the object of their concern – the surviving 600 men of Benjamin. It underscores the severity of the loss and the fragility of Benjamin’s future existence. It’s a lament for a dying tribe.
• "seeing we have sworn by the LORD": This is the crux of their dilemma. Their sacred vow to Yahweh acts as an unbreakable barrier. It points to the Israelites' deep-seated commitment (at least initially) to their oaths, even if made rashly, because of the seriousness of invoking God's name. This divine binding makes a simple solution impossible.
• "that we will not give them our daughters to wives": This specifies the precise nature of the oath, forbidding intermarriage. It reveals the severe and encompassing nature of their original curse against Benjamin, now threatening the very extinction of one of the twelve tribes. This reveals a major ethical blind spot in their prior zeal, not anticipating the consequence.

Judges 21 7 Bonus section

The tribal council's dilemma in this verse reflects a theological challenge: Can an oath, even a rash one, made to God be circumvented or annulled? The biblical precedent (Num 30) suggests that vows were generally binding, with specific provisions for women under paternal or marital authority. For the assembled Israel, there was no human authority higher than their collective voice sworn before YHWH. This highlights the concept that not all religiously zealous actions are inherently good or wise. Their solution, revealed in subsequent verses (capturing women from Jabesh-Gilead and Shiloh), showcases how they tried to work around the letter of the law without technically breaking the explicit vow. This wasn't an annulling of the oath, but a search for a loophole, indicating the immense pressure they felt between their self-imposed religious constraint and the covenantal obligation to preserve their tribal structure as part of God's people. This desperate "workaround" itself reveals the compromised moral state of Israel in the Judges period, as it involved deceit and potentially further violence against vulnerable women, demonstrating a deeper departure from God's ideal.

Judges 21 7 Commentary

Judges 21:7 presents a profound moral paradox born of religious zeal mixed with short-sightedness. The Israelites, in their fury against Benjamin's unrighteousness, swore an absolute oath before the LORD. While their zeal against wickedness might seem laudable, the absoluteness and consequences of their oath were not fully considered. They acted collectively and passionately but without the divine wisdom or leadership that could foresee the destructive ramifications of eliminating an entire tribe of Israel. This verse vividly illustrates the weight of an oath made in God's name, its irrevocable nature even when leading to dire outcomes for God's own people. It underscores that even seemingly righteous actions, when done in a vacuum of discernment and without proportionality, can lead to devastating self-inflicted wounds. The desperation "How shall we do" exposes the lack of foresight in their collective spiritual and military endeavor, a stark demonstration of Israel's recurring failure when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes."