Judges 21:19

Then they said, Behold, [there is] a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly [in a place] which [is] on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.

Then they said {H559}, Behold, there is a feast {H2282} of the LORD {H3068} in Shiloh {H7887} yearly {H3117}{H3117} in a place which is on the north side {H6828} of Bethel {H1008}, on the east side {H4217}{H8121} of the highway {H4546} that goeth up {H5927} from Bethel {H1008} to Shechem {H7927}, and on the south {H5045} of Lebonah {H3829}.

Then they said, "Look, each year there's a festival in honor of ADONAI in Shiloh, north of Beit-El, on the east side of the road that goes up from Beit-El to Sh'khem, and south of Levonah."

“But look,” they said, “there is a yearly feast to the LORD in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel east of the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.”

And they said, Behold, there is a feast of Jehovah from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.

Commentary

Context

This verse provides crucial geographical details for a desperate and morally ambiguous plan at the very end of the Book of Judges. Following the near annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin in a devastating civil war (described in Judges 20), the remaining Israelite tribes realized their solemn oath not to give their daughters in marriage to Benjaminite men would lead to the tribe's complete extinction (Judges 21:1). To resolve this dire situation, they devised a scheme: the remaining Benjaminite men were instructed to ambush women attending the annual feast in Shiloh and take them as wives. This verse precisely pinpoints the location of this feast, enabling the plan to proceed.

Key Themes

  • Desperation and Moral Compromise: The verse is integral to a narrative that highlights the profound moral decay and desperate measures taken in Israel during a chaotic period when "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). The abduction, though sanctioned by the tribal leaders, was a clear violation of normal marital customs and God's law.
  • Preservation of a Tribe: Despite the highly questionable methods, the underlying motivation was to prevent the complete disappearance of one of Israel's twelve tribes, reflecting a deep-seated commitment to the covenant community and the divine promise of a numerous people.
  • Geographical Precision: The detailed description of Shiloh's location underscores the practical, almost tactical, nature of the instructions given to the Benjaminite survivors. This precision was essential for the success of their desperate plan.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "feast of the LORD" (Hebrew: chag Yahweh) refers to one of the annual pilgrimage festivals prescribed by God in the Mosaic Law, likely the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), which often involved dancing and celebration in the fields. Shiloh was the central place of worship during this period, housing the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant, before the establishment of the monarchy and the temple in Jerusalem.

Geographical Significance

The precise directions – "on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah" – were crucial for the Benjaminite men to successfully carry out their plan. These locations (Bethel, Shechem, Lebonah) were well-known landmarks in ancient Israel, emphasizing the historical reality of the events described and providing a clear mental map for the original audience. Shiloh itself held immense historical and religious importance as the place where the ark of the covenant resided for a significant period (1 Samuel 1:3) and where key national assemblies took place.

Practical Application

While the specific events of Judges 21 are a stark reminder of a chaotic and morally compromised period in Israel's history, the verse highlights how even in times of great distress, people sought to preserve their community, sometimes resorting to desperate measures. It serves as a historical account, prompting reflection on the consequences of a lack of central, righteous leadership and the dangers of "doing what is right in one's own eyes." It implicitly reminds us of the importance of seeking God's will and adhering to His commands in all actions, even when facing dire circumstances, and the value of every part of God's people within the covenant community.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 5:1 (1 votes)

    ¶ After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

  • 1 Samuel 1:3 (1 votes)

    And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were] there.

  • Numbers 28:16 (1 votes)

    ¶ And in the fourteenth day of the first month [is] the passover of the LORD.

  • Psalms 81:3 (1 votes)

    Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

  • Leviticus 23:6 (1 votes)

    And on the fifteenth day of the same month [is] the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

  • Numbers 28:26 (1 votes)

    Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks [be out], ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:

  • Leviticus 23:34 (1 votes)

    Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month [shall be] the feast of tabernacles [for] seven days unto the LORD.