Judges 21:12

KJV

And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which [is] in the land of Canaan.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they found {H4672} among the inhabitants {H3427} of Jabeshgilead {H3003}{H1568} four {H702} hundred {H3967} young {H5291} virgins {H1330}, that had known {H3045} no man {H376} by lying {H4904} with any male {H2145}: and they brought {H935} them unto the camp {H4264} to Shiloh {H7887}, which is in the land {H776} of Canaan {H3667}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Among the inhabitants of Yavesh-Gil'ad they found 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Kena'an.

Berean Standard Bible

So they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young women who had not had relations with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.

American Standard Version

And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins, that had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 21:12 recounts a grim and desperate measure taken by the Israelite tribes to prevent the extinction of the tribe of Benjamin following a devastating civil war. Bound by a solemn oath not to give their own daughters to the surviving Benjamite men, the tribes executed a punitive raid on Jabesh-gilead, a city that had failed to join the war. From its inhabitants, they seized four hundred young virgins, explicitly noted for their sexual purity, and brought them to the sacred site of Shiloh. These women were intended as wives for the remaining Benjamite men, a solution that starkly illustrates the moral decay, human expediency, and profound lack of divine guidance characteristic of this chaotic period in Israel's history.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 21:12 is situated in the concluding chapters of the Book of Judges, which graphically depict a spiraling era of moral and spiritual decline in Israel. This verse is an integral part of the narrative arc found in [Judges 19-21](/judges/19-21 "Judges 19-21 - The Outrage at Gibeah and Its Aftermath"), which details a horrific civil war. The conflict was ignited by the heinous crime committed by Benjamites in Gibeah against a Levite's concubine, an event that profoundly shocked the other tribes, as described in [Judges 19:22](/judges/19-22 "Judges 19:22 - The Outrage at Gibeah"). Following the near annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin, leaving only 600 men, the remaining eleven tribes were seized with remorse. However, they were constrained by a solemn, albeit rash, oath they had sworn at Mizpah: "None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife" ([Judges 21:1](/judges/21-1 "Judges 21:1 - Israel's Oath Regarding Benjamin")). The solution to this self-imposed dilemma unfolds in two morally questionable phases: first, the near destruction of Jabesh-gilead (with the exception of its virgins) for its failure to participate in the war against Benjamin, as outlined in [Judges 21:10-11](/judges/21-10-11 "Judges 21:10-11 - Judgment on Jabesh-Gilead"); and second, the subsequent abduction of women from Shiloh during an annual festival, detailed in [Judges 21:16-23](/judges/21-16-23 "Judges 21:16-23 - The Abduction at Shiloh"). Judges 21:12 specifically describes the acquisition of the first group of women from Jabesh-gilead.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges, spanning roughly from the death of Joshua to the rise of the monarchy, was characterized by a decentralized tribal confederacy and a profound absence of strong, righteous leadership. This era is famously summarized by the recurring refrain, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" ([Judges 17:6](/judges/17-6 "Judges 17:6 - No King in Israel") and [Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - The Concluding Statement of Judges")). This moral relativism led to internal strife, cycles of apostasy, and a tragic departure from God's covenant laws. Shiloh, prominently mentioned in the verse, held immense religious significance during this era, serving as the primary location for the Tabernacle and a central gathering place for tribal assemblies and worship, as established in [Joshua 18:1](/joshua/18-1 "Joshua 18:1 - The Tabernacle at Shiloh"). The concept of "virginity" was of paramount importance in ancient Israelite society, particularly for marriage, as it guaranteed paternity, ensured the purity of the family line, and upheld the honor of both the woman and her family. The application of *herem* (the concept of devotion to destruction) against Jabesh-gilead, though deeply problematic in its execution here, reflects the severe consequences for perceived breaches of covenant solidarity within the tribal confederacy.

* **Key Themes:** Judges 21:12 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout the Book of Judges. Firstly, it starkly illustrates the **moral decline and spiritual anarchy** that permeated Israel when the people abandoned God's laws and leadership. Human expediency and self-interest consistently overrode divine principles, leading to tragic outcomes. Secondly, the verse highlights the severe **consequences of rash and ungodly vows**. The Israelites' hasty oath regarding Benjamin, made without seeking divine counsel, trapped them in a dilemma that they then attempted to resolve through further violence and moral compromise. This demonstrates how human attempts to rectify self-imposed problems can lead to a cascade of sin. Thirdly, despite the profound moral failings and internal strife, there is a strong, albeit deeply flawed, desire for the **preservation of Israelite identity and the twelve-tribe structure**. The desperate measures taken to secure wives for the surviving Benjamites underscore the enduring importance of tribal lineage and national unity in the eyes of the Israelites, even when their means were far from righteous. This concern for the continuity of the covenant people, despite their unrighteous actions, subtly points to God's ultimate faithfulness in preserving His chosen nation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Virgins (Hebrew, _bᵉthûwlâh_ - H1330):** This term, derived from an unused root meaning "to separate," specifically denotes young women who are set apart, signifying their untouched sexual purity. In ancient Israelite society, a woman's virginity was not merely a physical state but a crucial aspect of her honor, her family's reputation, and her suitability for marriage. For the purpose of repopulating the tribe of Benjamin, it was pragmatically essential that these women could bear children and establish legitimate family lines, making their virginity a non-negotiable requirement for the tribes' desperate solution.
* **Known (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ_ - H3045):** As a primitive root, "yada" means "to know" in a vast array of senses, including intellectual comprehension, experiential acquaintance, and, as used here, euphemistically for sexual intimacy. The phrase "had known no man by lying with any male" (which also includes H2145, _zâkâr_, for "male") is a common biblical idiom emphasizing the complete and absolute sexual inexperience of the four hundred young women. Its inclusion underscores the specific, culturally significant criteria the Israelites were seeking in potential wives, ensuring that the lineage would be considered pure and untainted by previous sexual relations.
* **Shiloh (Hebrew, _Shîylôh_ - H7887):** Shiloh was a highly significant religious and administrative center in ancient Israel, serving as the location of the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant for much of the Judges period. It was the central gathering point where the tribes assembled for worship, festivals, and crucial national decisions. The fact that these women, acquired through violence and moral compromise, were brought to Shiloh highlights a profound irony and the moral bankruptcy of the era. A sacred site, meant for God's holy presence and righteous worship, became the destination for a human-devised, ethically dubious solution, underscoring the deep spiritual disconnect of the people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins":** This clause describes the specific outcome of the punitive expedition against Jabesh-gilead. The "finding" was not accidental but the deliberate result of a military action to destroy the city (except for its virgins) because its inhabitants had failed to participate in the collective tribal war against Benjamin. The precise number, four hundred, indicates a meticulous and calculated effort, highlighting the pragmatic and desperate nature of this "solution" to the Benjamite crisis, driven by human logic rather than divine guidance.
* **"that had known no man by lying with any male":** This phrase serves as a crucial clarification, emphasizing the moral and social status of the women. Their explicit virginity was a non-negotiable requirement for them to be considered suitable wives in this patriarchal society, ensuring the purity and legitimacy of the lineage for the tribe of Benjamin. This detail reflects the societal norms where a woman's value for marriage and her ability to establish a legitimate family line were intrinsically linked to her sexual purity.
* **"and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which [is] in the land of Canaan":** This part specifies the destination of the captured virgins. Shiloh, as the central sanctuary and assembly point for the Israelite tribes, was the logical gathering place where the surviving Benjamites were also assembled. The mention of "the land of Canaan" serves as a geographical marker, grounding the narrative in its historical setting, but also subtly reminds the reader that even within the promised land, the people were acting in ways that directly contradicted the spirit and letter of God's covenant.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices that powerfully underscore its grim reality and the moral chaos of the era. **Euphemism** is prominently featured in the phrase "had known no man by lying with any male," which delicately conveys the women's virginity. This indirect language, while common in biblical texts for sensitive topics, here highlights the specific, almost clinical, criteria the Israelites were seeking for their pragmatic solution. **Irony** pervades the entire narrative, particularly with the mention of Shiloh. Shiloh, the sacred site of the Tabernacle, a place consecrated for divine presence and covenant worship, becomes the destination for women obtained through violence and moral compromise. This stark contrast between the holy purpose of the place and the unholy means of acquiring its new "inhabitants" underscores the profound spiritual disconnect and moral decay of the era. Furthermore, the **contrast** between the tribes' initial righteous indignation and zeal against Benjamin and their subsequent morally dubious actions to preserve the tribe illuminates the chaotic, hypocritical, and self-contradictory nature of their leadership and decision-making during this period of "everyone doing what was right in his own eyes." The brutal reality of "finding" these women, implying a discovery, subtly masks the violent reality of their capture and the destruction of their home.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 21:12, while deeply disturbing, offers profound theological insights into the human condition and God's enduring purposes. It vividly portrays the depths of moral depravity and societal breakdown that can occur when a people abandons divine law and leadership, choosing instead to "do what is right in their own eyes." The desperate and ethically compromised actions taken by the Israelites to preserve Benjamin underscore the dangers of human expediency and the tragic consequences of rash vows made without seeking God's counsel. Yet, even amidst such profound human failure, the narrative subtly points to God's overarching sovereignty and faithfulness in preserving His covenant people, ensuring the continuation of the tribal lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come. This preservation, however, is achieved not through righteous human action, but often despite human sinfulness, highlighting God's patient work through flawed instruments and His unwavering commitment to His promises.

* [Ecclesiastes 5:4-5](/ecclesiastes/5-4-5 "Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 - On Vows and Their Fulfillment")
* [Proverbs 14:12](/proverbs/14-12 "Proverbs 14:12 - The Way That Seems Right")
* [Romans 11:1](/romans/11-1 "Romans 11:1 - God Has Not Rejected Israel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The events of Judges 21:12, though set in a distant and morally complex past, offer timeless and sobering lessons for contemporary believers. This passage serves as a stark warning against the dangers of making hasty decisions or vows, especially those made in anger, fear, or without prayerful and humble consideration of God's will. The Israelites' self-imposed dilemma, born from a rash oath, led them down a path of further violence, injustice, and moral compromise, powerfully demonstrating how one ungodly decision can cascade into a series of regrettable and destructive actions. It also highlights the critical importance of righteous leadership and unwavering adherence to God's revealed will. When individuals, communities, or nations "do what is right in their own eyes," abandoning divine standards for human expediency, chaos, injustice, and spiritual decline inevitably follow. For us today, this calls for profound discernment, humility, and a constant reliance on God's Word and the Holy Spirit in all our choices, both personal and corporate, recognizing that true wisdom and lasting peace come only from above, not from human ingenuity or self-serving solutions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do hasty decisions or vows, especially those made in emotional distress, impact our lives and the lives of those around us?**
* **In what ways might we, individually or communally, be tempted to "do what is right in our own eyes" rather than diligently seeking and submitting to God's guidance?**
* **What enduring lessons can we draw about leadership, moral authority, and the consequences of spiritual compromise from the chaotic period of the Judges, and how can we apply them to our own contexts and communities today?**

### FAQ

**Why was Jabesh-gilead singled out for destruction?**

Answer: Jabesh-gilead was singled out for destruction because its inhabitants had failed to participate in the collective tribal war against Benjamin. This non-participation was viewed as a grave breach of the covenant solidarity and a direct violation of the sacred oath sworn by the other Israelite tribes to gather "as one man" against Benjamin. Such a failure to answer the call to arms was considered an act of disloyalty to the tribal confederation, leading the other tribes to apply the *herem* (devotion to destruction) to Jabesh-gilead, as explicitly detailed in [Judges 21:8-11](/judges/21-8-11 "Judges 21:8-11 - The Judgment on Jabesh-Gilead"). The only exception made during this punitive action was for the virgins, who were preserved for the specific purpose of providing wives for the surviving Benjamites, thus fulfilling another aspect of the tribes' desperate plan.

**What was the significance of Shiloh in this narrative?**

Answer: Shiloh held immense significance in ancient Israel as the central sanctuary where the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were housed for a considerable period, as mentioned in [Joshua 18:1](/joshua/18-1 "Joshua 18:1 - The Tabernacle at Shiloh"). It served as the primary spiritual and administrative hub for the tribal confederacy, a place where the Israelites gathered for worship, festivals, and important national decisions. In the context of [Judges 21:12](/judges/21-12 "Judges 21:12 - The Virgins from Jabesh-Gilead"), the fact that the captured virgins were brought to Shiloh highlights a profound irony and the depth of Israel's spiritual decline. A sacred place, meant for God's holy presence and righteous worship, became the site for implementing a solution born out of human desperation, violence, and moral compromise. This misuse of a holy place, where the people acted according to their own eyes rather than God's law, tragically foreshadows its eventual destruction, as hinted at in later biblical narratives like [1 Samuel 4:10-11](/1_samuel/4-10-11 "1 Samuel 4:10-11 - The Ark Captured and Shiloh Destroyed") and confirmed by prophetic warnings in [Jeremiah 7:12-14](/jeremiah/7-12-14 "Jeremiah 7:12-14 - The Fate of Shiloh").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The chaotic and morally compromised events of [Judges 21:12](/judges/21-12 "Judges 21:12 - The Virgins from Jabesh-Gilead") and the broader Book of Judges powerfully underscore humanity's desperate need for a true and righteous King. The repeated refrain, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" ([Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - The Concluding Statement of Judges")), points to the ultimate failure of human leadership and the inherent sinfulness that leads to such depravity and violence. While the Israelites sought to preserve their lineage through violent and ethically dubious means, the New Testament reveals God's perfect plan of preservation and restoration through Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate King, not one who allows His people to "do what is right in their own eyes," but one who perfectly embodies and fulfills God's righteous law, not abolishing it but bringing it to completion ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). Unlike the flawed human solutions, Jesus, the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offers a perfect and final sacrifice, reconciling humanity to God and building a kingdom not of this world, established by violence and human expediency, but by grace, truth, and sacrificial love ([John 18:36-37](/john/18-36-37 "John 18:36-37 - Jesus' Kingdom is Not of This World")). He is the one who truly gathers and preserves His people, not through coercive means or the acquisition of women through war, but through His call to faith, drawing all people to Himself and ensuring the eternal continuity of His spiritual lineage, uniting all believers into [one flock under one Shepherd](/john/10-16 "John 10:16 - One Flock, One Shepherd"). The moral vacuum and desperate measures of Judges find their ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the righteous, redemptive reign of Christ, who brings order, healing, and eternal life where there was once chaos, death, and moral decay.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 18:1

¶ And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.

Jeremiah 7:12

But go ye now unto my place which [was] in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.

Judges 20:23

(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)

Psalms 78:60

So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent [which] he placed among men;

Judges 20:18

¶ And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah [shall go up] first.