Judges 21:21

And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

And see {H7200}, and, behold, if the daughters {H1323} of Shiloh {H7887} come out {H3318} to dance {H2342} in dances {H4246}, then come ye out {H3318} of the vineyards {H3754}, and catch {H2414} you every man {H376} his wife {H802} of the daughters {H1323} of Shiloh {H7887}, and go {H1980} to the land {H776} of Benjamin {H1144}.

and keep watch. If the girls of Shiloh come out to do their dances, then come out of the vineyards, and each of you catch for himself a wife from the Shiloh girls, and go on to the land of Binyamin.

and watch. When you see the daughters of Shiloh come out to perform their dances, each of you is to come out of the vineyards, catch for himself a wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

and see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

Commentary

Judges 21:21 describes a desperate and ethically challenging solution devised by the Israelites to prevent the extinction of the tribe of Benjamin. Following a devastating civil war, the remaining men of Benjamin were without wives, as the other tribes had sworn an oath not to give their daughters to them.

Context

This verse is found at the grim conclusion of the Book of Judges, a period characterized by moral decline and social chaos, famously summarized by the phrase, "every man did that which was right in his own eyes." The preceding chapters recount a horrific incident involving a Levite's concubine, leading to a brutal civil war that decimated the tribe of Benjamin (see Judges 19 and Judges 20). Having sworn an oath at Mizpah not to give their daughters to the Benjaminites, the tribes faced a dilemma: how to preserve a tribe of Israel without breaking their vow. Their solution involved instructing the Benjaminite men to lie in wait in the vineyards surrounding Shiloh, a significant religious center where the Tabernacle was located, and abduct women during a festival.

Key Themes

  • Desperation and Extreme Measures: The verse highlights the dire straits the Israelites found themselves in, resorting to a morally questionable act to fulfill an oath while also preserving a tribe.
  • Consequences of Rash Oaths: The oath sworn by the Israelites, though perhaps made in righteous anger, led to an unforeseen and problematic outcome, necessitating further ethically dubious actions.
  • Preservation of Israel: Despite the chaos, there was a strong underlying desire to maintain the twelve tribes of Israel, demonstrating a commitment to the covenant community.
  • Moral Ambiguity of the Judges Period: This event serves as a stark example of the spiritual and moral decline during the era of the Judges, where human expediency often overshadowed divine principles.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "catch you every man his wife" uses the Hebrew verb taphus (ΧͺΧ€Χ©Χ‚), which means "to seize," "to lay hold of," or "to grasp." This strongly implies a non-consensual act of abduction rather than a consensual marriage. The "dances" (Hebrew mecholoth, ΧžΧ—ΧœΧ•Χͺ) likely refer to a festive, possibly religious, dance often associated with celebrations or harvest festivals.

Practical Application

While this passage describes a specific historical event born out of unique circumstances, it offers several lessons. It serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of human-devised solutions when divorced from God's wisdom and guidance. The actions described are a stark contrast to God's ideal for marriage as a loving, consensual union, as established in Genesis 2:24. The narrative of Judges, particularly this concluding chapter, underscores the chaos that ensues when a society lacks spiritual leadership and "every man did that which was right in his own eyes," rather than seeking the Lord's will. It prompts reflection on the importance of seeking divine wisdom and upholding ethical principles even in challenging situations, trusting that God's ways are always superior.

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Cross-References

  • Judges 11:34

    And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she [was his] only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

  • Exodus 15:20

    And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

  • Luke 17:25

    But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

  • 2 Samuel 6:14

    And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and David [was] girded with a linen ephod.

  • Psalms 149:3

    Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

  • Jeremiah 31:13

    Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

  • Psalms 150:4

    Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.