Judges 21:9

This verse from the book of Judges highlights a critical moment in the aftermath of the devastating war between the tribes of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. It details the result of a census taken at the assembly of Mizpah, revealing a specific group's absence and setting the stage for further tragic events.

Context

Following the near annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 20:46-48) during a civil war instigated by the heinous crime in Gibeah (Judges 19), the remaining Israelites gathered at Mizpah. They had made two significant vows: first, that none would give their daughter as a wife to a Benjamite (Judges 21:1), and second, that anyone who failed to join the assembly at Mizpah for the war effort would be put to death (Judges 21:5). This verse describes the check performed to see who was present, specifically noting the absence of anyone from Jabesh-gilead. This discovery was crucial because, having realized their first vow would lead to the extinction of Benjamin, the tribes were seeking a way to provide wives without breaking that vow. The absence of Jabesh-gilead under the second vow provided a grim solution.

Key Themes

• Consequences of Vows: The narrative underscores the serious and often unintended consequences of making rash or poorly considered vows before God. The vows made by the Israelites trapped them in a difficult situation, leading to further violence.
• Tribal Unity and Responsibility: The assembly at Mizpah represented a call for national unity against a great evil. The absence of Jabesh-gilead was seen as a failure of responsibility to the rest of the tribes.
• Judgment and Retribution: The verse sets up the justification for the judgment that would fall upon Jabesh-gilead for their failure to participate in the collective action, highlighting the severity with which the other tribes viewed their absence.
• The Dark Period of the Judges: This passage, like much of the book of Judges, illustrates the chaotic and often violent state of Israel when there was "no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the people were numbered" simply means a census or count was taken of those present at the assembly. The significance isn't in a complex Hebrew term but in the act itself – a formal check to identify compliance or non-compliance with the earlier solemn vow (Judges 21:5). The stark finding, "none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there," was a factual report with dire implications.

Reflection

Judges 21:9 is a somber reminder of how one decision (to not attend the assembly) could have devastating consequences for a community, especially in a time when tribal unity and covenant obligations were paramount. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of fulfilling commitments made within a community or before God. While we are not under the specific tribal laws of ancient Israel, the principle that our actions (or inactions) have consequences, and that commitments should be taken seriously, remains relevant. The events that follow this discovery in Judges 21 show the desperate measures taken by the Israelites to rectify one problem (the near extinction of Benjamin) by creating another (the destruction of Jabesh-gilead), highlighting the complex and often tragic outcomes when human solutions replace divine guidance.