What does Judges 21:14 mean?
"And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not." - Judges 21:14
The book of Judges is a part of the Old Testament in the Bible and tells the story of the Israelites during the time of the judges, before they had a king. It is a time of great moral decline and recurring cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. The verse Judges 21:14 in the King James Version states, "And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet so they sufficed them not."
This verse comes at the end of the book of Judges and is part of the account of the aftermath of a brutal conflict between the tribe of Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel. The conflict arose because of a heinous crime committed by some men from the tribe of Benjamin, and the other tribes declared war on them in response. As the conflict went on, the other tribes of Israel made a vow not to give their daughters in marriage to any man from the tribe of Benjamin. In the process of fulfilling this vow, they realized that they had virtually wiped out the tribe of Benjamin, leaving only a few hundred men alive.
Realizing the severity of their vow and the potential extinction of the tribe of Benjamin, the other tribes sought to remedy the situation. They came up with a plan to provide wives for the remaining men from the tribe of Benjamin, and they did this by giving them the women who had been spared from Jabesh-gilead. However, even after this act of reconciliation, there were still not enough women to go around, leaving some men without wives.
The context of this verse reflects a number of themes that are prevalent throughout the book of Judges, including the consequences of sin, the need for reconciliation, and the prevalence of violence and immorality. The verse also highlights themes of human weakness and the flawed nature of human decision-making, as the tribes initially responded to the sin of the tribe of Benjamin with harshness and then sought to rectify their mistake with a questionable solution.
The verse also serves as a commentary on the overall moral and spiritual state of the nation of Israel during this time. The fact that such a conflict could arise, leading to the near destruction of an entire tribe, reflects the moral decline and chaos that characterized this period in Israel's history. The book of Judges repeatedly emphasizes the need for true repentance and a return to God's ways in order to break the cycle of sin and oppression that plagued the people.
There is also a symbolic aspect to this verse, particularly in the use of marriage as a means of reconciliation and restoration. Marriage is often used in the Bible as a symbol of the intimate relationship between God and his people, and the provision of wives for the men of Benjamin can be seen as a sign of God's grace and restoration, despite the tribe's earlier sins. It also serves as a reminder that God can bring beauty and new life out of even the most broken and seemingly irredeemable situations.
In conclusion, Judges 21:14 is a verse that is deeply rooted in the historical and moral context of the book of Judges. It reflects the consequences of sin, the need for reconciliation, and the overall moral and spiritual decline of the nation of Israel during this time. It also carries with it a message of hope and restoration, as it symbolizes God's ability to bring reconciliation and new life even in the midst of chaos and brokenness.
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Judges 21:14 - "And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not."
"And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not." - Judges 21:14
Judges 21:20 - "Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;"
Judges 21:9 - "For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there."
Judges 18:21 - "So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them."
Judges 21:17 - "And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel."
Judges 9:21 - "And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother."
Judges 11:14 - "And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:"
Judges 21:15 - "And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel."
Judges 14:11 - "And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him."
Judges 21:25 - "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
Judges 14:1 - "And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines."
Judges 3:14 - "So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years."
Judges 14:7 - "And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well."
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."
Judges 14:14 - "And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle."
Judges 7:21 - "And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled."
Judges 21:4 - "And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings."
Judges 9:14 - "Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us."
Judges 13:21 - "But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD."
Judges 21:6 - "And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day."
Judges 21:2 - "And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;"
Judges 21:13 - "And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them."
Exodus 14: 21
Judges 14:20 - "But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend."
Genesis 21:14
Exodus 14: 21
Judges 12:14 - "And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years."
Judges 19:21 - "So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink."
Judges 21:16 - "Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?"