SERIES H --- THE JUDGES --- LESSON 23

THE BENJAMITE WIVES

A STRANGE WAY TO FIND A WIFE

From Judges 21

Not one of us will ever let his daughter marry a man of Benjamin, the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah. Now that the battle was over and the tribe of Benjamin had been almost destroyed, the people of Israel met at Bethel again. They sat before Adonai until evening, crying aloud in anguish. Why, Adonai? They kept asking. Why has all of this happened? Why has one of our twelve tribes been almost destroyed? The people arose early the next morning to build an altar, where they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then they began to discuss their situation. When we met at Mizpah, which of our people did not join us? they asked. At that time, they had made a vow that any who did not join them would be put to death. As they talked about these things, they were moved with compassion for the tribe of Benjamin. Today we have lost one of our twelve tribes, they said. Where will the few men who survived find wives? We can’t give them our daughters, for we have sworn before Adonai that we would not. They recalled their vow to kill anyone who failed to join them at Mizpah. When we met at Mizpah, which of our people did not join us? they asked. Then they remembered that not one person had come from Jabesh-Gilead. Go to Jabesh-Gilead and kill every person there with your swords, the people commanded. Twelve thousand of their best soldiers went to Jabesh-Gilead and killed everyone except four hundred virgins who were old enough to be married. Then they returned to the camp at Shiloh with these young women. Word was sent to the survivors of Benjamin living at the rock of Rimmon, telling them they could return in peace. When the Benjamites returned, the people of Israel gave them the four hundred young women whom they had captured at Jabesh-Gilead. Because there were six hundred men, there were not enough wives for all of them and Israel still felt sorry for the tribe of Benjamin. Where shall we get wives for the other men? the leaders of Israel wondered. All of the women of Benjamin are dead. These men must have wives so that a tribe of Israel is not destroyed completely, but we have vowed to Adonai that they cannot have our daughters. We even put a curse on the man who would let his daughter marry a man of Benjamin. At last, the leaders of Israel thought of a strange plan for the men of Benjamin. Go to the feast near Shiloh, just south of Lebonah, on the road from Bethel to Shechem, they said. Hide in the vineyards until the young maidens of Shiloh come out to dance. Then each of you who do not have a wife may rush out and catch one. When you have taken her home and her father or brothers complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Please be gracious, for we could not find enough wives for the Benjamites when we destroyed Jabesh-Gilead. And since you did not give your daughter to a Benjamite, you are not guilty of breaking a vow.’ In this way the single men of Benjamin found their wives. When they had carried the young women back to their homes, they rebuilt their cities and lived in them. Then all the other men of Israel went back to their tribes and families. Now these were the days when Israel had no king, the days when every man did whatever seemed right to him.

COMMENTARY

BENJAMIN --- THE MAN AND THE TRIBE

The people of Israel had previously promised not to aid Benjamin, but they did not want one of the twelve tribes to be lost. How would wives be provided for the six hundred men left of that once great tribe? A strange plan was developed to let the men of Benjamin {steal} wives at Shiloh. Benjamin was the youngest of Jacob’s twelve sorts. His mother Rachel died during his birth. With her last words, Rachel named him {Benoni,} which meant {Son of My Sorrow.} In Old Testament times, names often reflected a special event or indicated the parents’ wish for their child. Jacob, who did not want such an unlucky name, renamed him {Benjamin} – {Son of My Right Hand.} Benjamin grew to be a favourite son, perhaps because he reminded Jacob of Rachel. When Jacob gave his sons their final blessing, he compared Benjamin to a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil, this strange blessing may mean that Benjamin was an aggressive and unruly son. Many years later, the tribe descended from Benjamin earned a similar reputation. During the settlement of Canaan, the Benjamites became famous for their marksmanship with the bow and slingshot. Because many of the men were left-handed, they could attack an enemy on his unprotected side. The traits continued through various Benjamite descendants. Saul, the first king of Israel, as well as the Saul who persecuted early believers, were both known for their fiery tempers.