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Judges 21:18

BenjaminIsrael

16 Then the elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”

17 They added, “There must be heirs for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out.

But we cannot give them our daughters as wives.” For the Israelites had sworn, “Cursed is he who gives a wife to a Benjamite.”

19 “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.”

20 So they commanded the Benjamites: “Go, hide in the vineyards

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But we cannot give them our daughters as wives.” For the Israelites had sworn, “Cursed is he who gives a wife to a Benjamite.”
KJV
Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
WEB
However, we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, ‘Cursed is he who gives a wife to Benjamin.’”
ASV
Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
DARBY
But we cannot give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to the Benjaminites!
BLB
And we are not able to give to them wives from our daughters.” For the sons of Israel had sworn an oath, saying, “Cursed [be] the one who gives a wife to Benjamin.”
ÅB
Men vi kan ikke gi dem noen av våre døtre til ekte. For Israels barn har svoret: Forbannet være den som gir noen av Benjamin sin datter til hustru!
OTB
«Men vi kan ikke gi dem koner fra våre døtre,» sa de, «for israelittene har sverget: ‘Forbannet være den som gir en kone til en benjaminit.’»
B1930
Men vi kan ikke gi dem nogen av våre døtre til ekte. For Israels barn har svoret: Forbannet være den som gir nogen av Benjamin sin datter til hustru!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Judges 21:1

    Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”

    Read in context

  • Judges 11:35

    As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have brought me to my knees! You have brought great misery upon me, for I have given my word to the LORD and cannot take it back.”

    Read in context