Judges 21:11

And this [is] the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

And this is the thing {H1697} that ye shall do {H6213}, Ye shall utterly destroy {H2763} every male {H2145}, and every woman {H802} that hath lain {H4904} by man {H3045}.

Completely destroy every man and every woman who has had sex with a man."

This is what you are to do: Devote to destruction every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.โ€

And this is the thing that ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

Commentary

Judges 21:11 records a severe directive issued by the assembly of Israel concerning the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead. This command is part of a complex and desperate plan to address the consequences of a civil war that nearly annihilated the tribe of Benjamin.

Context

This verse emerges from the chaotic final chapters of the Book of Judges, a period characterized by a lack of central authority and widespread moral decline. After the heinous crime committed by Benjamites in Gibeah (Judges 19), the other tribes of Israel waged war against Benjamin, almost wiping out the entire tribe (Judges 20). However, they soon regretted their actions, realizing that one of the twelve tribes of Israel was on the verge of extinction. A major problem arose: they had sworn an oath not to give their daughters to any Benjamite in marriage. To circumvent this vow while still providing wives for the remaining 600 Benjamite men, they targeted Jabesh-Gilead because its inhabitants had not joined the assembly in the war, thus making them eligible for punitive action that would yield virgin women.

Key Themes

  • The Weight of Oaths and Vows: The narrative powerfully illustrates the binding nature of oaths in ancient Israel, even when those oaths lead to ethically questionable and violent solutions to unforeseen problems.
  • Extreme Measures and Herem: The phrase "utterly destroy" translates the Hebrew term herem (ื—ึตืจึถื), which denotes a ban or total consecration to destruction. While often associated with divine judgment against idolatrous nations (Deuteronomy 7:2), its application here by Israelites against fellow Israelites (for failing to join a specific war) highlights the extreme and often flawed human decision-making of this era.
  • Moral and Spiritual Decline: This grim directive is a stark example of the moral decline of Israel during a time when "every man did that which was right in his own eyes," as famously noted in Judges 17:6 and Judges 21:25.
  • Preservation of a Tribe: Despite the horrific means, the ultimate goal was to ensure the survival and continuation of the tribe of Benjamin, demonstrating a deep-seated concern for the integrity of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The command to "utterly destroy" comes from the Hebrew root แธฅฤram (ื—ึธืจึทื), signifying devotion to destruction or a ban. In this context, it implies setting aside for total annihilation. The specification "every woman that hath lain by man" indicates that only virgins were to be spared, as they were the intended solution for providing wives for the Benjamites, thus fulfilling the spirit of the oath without violating its letter.

Practical Application

Judges 21:11 offers several important lessons for contemporary readers:

  1. The Peril of Rash Vows: It serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the serious and often unintended consequences of making hasty or ill-considered vows without seeking divine wisdom.
  2. The Importance of Godly Wisdom: The narrative underscores the chaos and moral compromises that occur when individuals or a nation act according to their own perceived righteousness rather than adhering to God's established laws and principles.
  3. Understanding Biblical Context: This passage is a historical account of a specific, turbulent period in Israel's history, marked by severe moral and spiritual challenges. It is descriptive of the events that transpired, not prescriptive for all believers at all times, and should be interpreted within its unique historical and theological framework.
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Cross-References

  • Numbers 31:17 (3 votes)

    Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

  • Numbers 31:18 (3 votes)

    But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

  • Deuteronomy 2:34 (2 votes)

    And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain: