Judges

Judges 21:1-12

The tribe of Benjamin is now at risk of extinction.   We could quickly look forward and see a drastic impact on the nation were this to happen.  Three leaders that impacted the nation were from the tribe of Benjamin:

• Saul, the first king of Israel.
• Queen Esther
• The apostle Paul.

There are many more nameless and faceless sons and daughters of Benjamin across the ages that were important to the nation.

The men of Israel, doing what was right in their eyes, had made an oath at Mizpah to not give any of their daughters to Benjamin for wives.  Now, with just a small group of men and no woman to take as wives, they wept bitterly.  They had created a mess that appeared to have brought about the extinction of a tribe.  

In addition, they had made an oath against any city that did not respond to the slaughter of the Levite's concubine that started this whole affair.  Jabesh Gilead had not come to Mizpah and had not taken part in the judgment against Benjamin.  Likewise, they had not made a vow to not give their daughters in marriage.  Striking the city solved two problems in their eyes.  It provided wives for Benjamin and fulfilled the vow to strike down any town not taking part – as such appearing to support Benjamin. 

These oaths were not necessary and inconsistent with the Lord.  They were simply emotional responses to the problem, not much different from cutting up a concubine.  This appears to be the virtue signaling of that day. 

Judges 21:13-19

The four hundred young women of Jabesh Gilead were not enough for the 600 men of Benjamin.  Again, we see the grieving of the people.  Yet, verse fifteen is interesting in that they put this on the Lord, as though He created a void in Israel.  The men of Israel are determined to solve this problem for the Lord.

They looked to the feast of the Lord in Shiloh.  Many would come along the road.  Kidnapping two hundred more women would solve their problem.  This appears to be one of the feasts called for by Yahweh, in which case the women would be of the tribes of Israel.  Their vow was not to give their daughters to Benjamin, apparently it was okay if they were kidnapped.

Judges 21:20-31

After bringing judgment on Benjamin for their actions against this concubine woman, the men of Israel now set up a kidnapping and instruct Benjamin in how to accomplish this.  Some believe these daughters of Shilo are performing a Canaanite fertility ritual associated with harvest.  Stealing a bride was a common occurrence in other cultures and times.  Once again, Israel looks like the world around them. 

The men of Benjamin steal wives for the two hundred.  They rebuilt their cities and families and lives. 

The writer of Judges gave us five chapters showing the state of the nation.  Apostasy and idolatry were rampant.  There were no moral boundaries.  There was a form of godliness, but their covenant relationship with Yahweh had been defiled by worship of other gods.  Everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes. 

© 2015, 2023 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater