What does Judges 21:7 mean?
"How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?" - Judges 21:7
In the book of Judges, chapter 21, verse 7 in the King James Version states, "How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?" This verse comes towards the end of the book of Judges, which chronicles the period of time in Israel following the death of Joshua. During this time, the Israelites continually turned away from God and fell into disobedience, and this verse is part of a narrative that illustrates the chaos and moral depravity of the period.
The context of this verse is a dire situation facing the tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The story leading up to this verse describes a horrific civil war between the Israelites and the tribe of Benjamin. The war was incited by the gang rape and subsequent murder of a Levite's concubine, and the Israelites were seeking to avenge the crime. However, after heavy losses on both sides, the Israelites were concerned about the survival of the tribe of Benjamin.
The verse itself reveals the Israelites' dilemma at this point in the narrative. They had taken an oath not to give their daughters in marriage to the tribe of Benjamin, but they now realized that this would lead to the extinction of the tribe. The verse reflects the moral and ethical quandary the Israelites find themselves in, as they are torn between conflicting obligations. They had sworn an oath to uphold a certain standard of justice and punishment, but at the same time, they faced the prospect of one of the tribes of Israel being wiped out entirely.
The themes of this verse and the surrounding narrative are complex and multifaceted. The tension between justice and mercy is a central theme. On one hand, there is the desire to uphold the oath that the Israelites made to not give their daughters in marriage to Benjamin, as a consequence of the tribe's wrongdoing. On the other hand, there is the understanding that if the tribe of Benjamin is not allowed to intermarry with other Israelite tribes, it will lead to their eventual extinction. This struggle to balance justice with compassion is a recurring theme throughout the book of Judges, as it depicts a time when "everyone did what was right in their own eyes" (Judges 21:25).
The verse also reflects the larger theme of the breakdown of societal order and moral decay in the absence of strong leadership and adherence to God's law. The period of the judges was marked by cycles of disobedience, punishment, repentance, and deliverance, and this verse is a poignant example of the moral confusion and chaos that characterized this time in Israel's history.
In terms of symbolism, this verse can be seen as a microcosm of the broader spiritual and moral challenges facing Israel during the period of the judges. The failure to uphold their oaths, the breakdown of the social order, and the inability to reconcile justice with mercy all point to the deeper spiritual and moral decay that plagued the Israelites at this time.
In conclusion, Judges 21:7 in the King James Version encapsulates the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by the Israelites during the period of the judges. It reflects the larger themes of justice, mercy, and the breakdown of societal order, as well as the challenges of maintaining faithfulness to God in the midst of moral and spiritual decay. This verse serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of seeking His guidance and wisdom in all matters.
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Judges 21:7 - "How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?"
"How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?" - Judges 21:7
Judges 7:21 - "And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled."
"And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled." - Judges 7:21
Judges 5:7
Matthew 7:1 - "Judge not, that ye be not judged."
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."
John 7:24 - "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
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."
Matthew 7:1-2 - "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
"Judge not, that ye be not judged." - Matthew 7:1
Judges 9:21 - "And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother."
Judges 21:15 - "And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel."
Judges 21:25 - "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
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."
Hosea 7:7 - "They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me."
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 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."
Judges 12:7 - "And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead."
Judges 14:7 - "And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well."
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?"
Judges 21:3 - "And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?"
Judges 1:21 - "And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day."
Judges 20:21 - "And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men."