Wives for Benjamin

Judges 21

Israel mourns that an oath sworn at Mizpah now threatens to leave the tribe of Benjamin without wives and so cut off from Israel entirely. To preserve the tribe without breaking their oath, the Israelites give the surviving young women of Jabesh-gilead to the Benjamite survivors and arrange for the remaining men to seize wives from the dancing daughters of Shiloh at its yearly feast.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW the children of Israel had sworn at Massepha, saying, Not a man of us shall give his daughter to a Benjaminite to wife.

BrentonNow the children of Israel swore in Massephath, saying, No man of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin for a wife.

GreekΚαὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ ὤμοσαν ἐν Μασσηφὰθ, λέγοντες, ἀνὴρ ἐξ ἡμῶν οὐ δώσει θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ τῷ Βενιαμὶν εἰς γυναῖκα.

KJVNow the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

JPSNow the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying: ‘There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.’

ThomsonSo when the people came to Baithel they sat there till evening before God, then raising their voice, they wept bitterly

BrentonAnd the people came to Bæthel, and sat there until evening before God: and they lifted up their voice and wept with a great weeping;

GreekΚαὶ ἦλθεν ὁ λαὸς εἰς Βαιθὴλ, καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐκεῖ ἕως ἑσπέρας ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ· καὶ ᾖραν φωνὴν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔκλαυσαν κλαυθμὸν μέγαν,

KJVAnd the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;

JPSAnd the people came to Beth-el, and sat there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.

Thomsonand said, Why O Lord God of Israel hath this happened that there should be this day one tribe cut off from Israel?

Brentonand said, Wherefore, O Lord God of Israel, has this come to pass, that to-day one tribe should be counted as missing from Israel?

Greekκαὶ εἶπαν, εἰς τί Κύριε Θεὲ Ισραὴλ ἐγενήθη αὕτη, τοῦ ἐπισκεπῆναι σήμερον ἀπὸ Ἰσραὴλ φυλὴν μίαν;

KJVAnd 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?

JPSAnd they said: ‘O LORD, the God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to-day one tribe lacking in Israel?’

ThomsonAnd on the day following the people arose early in the morning, and built there an altar, and offered whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

BrentonAnd it came to pass on the morrow that the people rose up early, and built there an altar, and offered up whole-burnt-offerings and peace-offerings.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἐπαύριον, καὶ ὤρθρισεν ὁ λαὸς, καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν ἐκεῖ θυσιαστήριον, καὶ ἀνήνεγκαν ὁλοκαυτώσεις καὶ τελείας.

KJVAnd it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

JPSAnd it came to pass on the morrow that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings.

ThomsonThen the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who came not up before the Lord at the general assembly? For they had denounced the great curse against those who came not up before the Lord to Massepha, saying, Let him assuredly be put to death.

BrentonAnd the children of Israel said, Who of all the tribes of Israel, went not up in the congregation to the Lord? for there was a great oath concerning those who went not up to the Lord to Massephath, saying, He shall surely be put to death.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ, τίς οὐκ ἀνέβη ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀπὸ πασῶν φυλῶν Ἰσραὴλ πρὸς Κύριον; ὅτι ὁ ὅρκος μέγας ἦν τοῖς οὐκ ἀναβεβηκόσι πρὸς Κύριον εἰς Μασσηφὰθ, λέγοντες, θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται.

KJVAnd the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.

JPSAnd the children of Israel said: ‘Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up in the assembly unto the LORD?’ For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up unto the LORD to Mizpah, saying: ‘He shall surely be put to death.’

ThomsonNow the children of Israel had felt compassion for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is now one tribe cut off from Israel,

BrentonAnd the children of Israel relented toward Benjamin their brother, and said, To-day one tribe is cut off from Israel.

GreekΚαὶ παρεκλήθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ πρὸς Βενιαμὶν ἀδελφὸν αὐτῶν, καὶ εἶπαν, ἐξεκόπη σήμερον φυλὴ μία ἀπὸ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.

JPSAnd the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said: ‘There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.

ThomsonWhat shall we do for wives for the few who are left, seeing we have sworn by the Lord, that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?

BrentonWhat shall we do for wives for the rest that remain? whereas we have sworn by the Lord, not to give them of our daughters for wives.

GreekΤί ποιήσωμεν αὐτοῖς τοῖς περισσοῖς τοῖς ὑπολειφθεῖσιν εἰς γυναῖκας; καὶ ἡμεῖς ὠμόσαμεν ἐν Κυρίῳ τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων ἡμῶν εἰς γυναῖκας.

KJVHow 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?

JPSHow 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?’

ThomsonSo when they said, Who is there among the tribes of Israel who came not up before the Lord to Massepha? and behold not a man had come to the camp from Jabis Galaad to the general assembly,

BrentonAnd they said, What one man is there of the tribes of Israel, who went not up to the Lord to Massephath? and, behold, no man came to the camp from Jabis Galaad to the assembly.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν, τίς εἷς ἀπὸ φυλῶν Ἰσραὴλ, ὃς οὐκ ἀνέβη πρὸς Κύριον εἰς Μασσηφάθ; Καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν ἀπὸ Ἰαβεῖς Γαλαὰδ εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν.

KJVAnd they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.

JPSAnd they said: ‘What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up unto the LORD to Mizpah?’ And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

Thomsonand the people were reviewed, and there was not a man of the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad;

BrentonAnd the people were numbered, and there was not there a man from the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπεσκέπη ὁ λαὸς, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ οἰκούντων Ἰαβὶς Γαλαάδ.

KJVFor the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.

JPSFor when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.

Thomsonthe congregation sent thither twelve thousand men from among the young warriors, and gave them a charge saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad with the edge of the sword:

BrentonAnd the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the strongest, and they charged them, saying, Go ye and smite the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad with the edge of the sword.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἐκεῖ ἡ συναγωγὴ δώδεκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν ἀπὸ υἱῶν τῆς δυνάμεως, καὶ ἐνετείλαντο αὐτοῖς λέγοντες, πορεύεσθε καὶ πατάξατε τοὺς οἰκοῦντας Ἰαβεῖς Γαλαὰδ ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας.

KJVAnd the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.

JPSAnd the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying: ‘Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones.

ThomsonAnd this you shall do, You shall devote to destruction every male, and every woman who hath cohabited with man:

BrentonAnd this shall ye do: every male and every woman that has known the lying with man ye shall devote to destruction, but the virgins ye shall save alive: and they did so.

GreekΚαὶ τοῦτο ποιήσετε· πᾶν ἄρσεν καὶ πᾶσαν γυναῖκα εἰδυῖαν κοίτην ἄρσενος, ἀναθεματιεῖτε· τὰς δὲ παρθένους, περιποιήσεσθε· καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως.

KJVAnd this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

JPSAnd this is the thing that ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.’

Thomsonbut the virgins you shall preserve alive. And having done so they found among the inhabitants four hundred young virgins who had not cohabited with man, and brought them to the camp of Selom which is in the land of Chanaan.

BrentonAnd they found among the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad four hundred young virgins, who had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them to Selom in the land of Chanaan.

GreekΚαὶ εὗρον ἀπὸ οἰκούντων Ἰαβεῖς Γαλαὰδ, τετρακοσίας νεάνιδας παρθένους, αἵτινες οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ἄνδρα εἰς κοίτην ἄρσενος, καὶ ἤνεγκαν αὐτὰς εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν εἰς Σηλὼμ τὴν ἐν γῇ Χαναάν.

KJVAnd they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

JPSAnd they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins, that had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

ThomsonThen all the congregation sent, and spoke to the children of Benjamin at Rock Remmon, and invited them to peace.

BrentonAnd all the congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin in the rock Remmon, and invited them to make peace.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλαν πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ, καὶ ἐλάλησαν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Βενιαμεὶν ἐν τῇ πέτρᾳ Ῥεμμὼν, καὶ ἐκάλεσαν αὐτοὺς εἰς εἰρήνην.

KJVAnd the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.

JPSAnd the whole congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace unto them.

ThomsonAnd when Benjamin returned to the children of Israel at that time, the Israelites gave them the women whom they had saved alive from among the daughters of Jabis Galaad.

BrentonAnd Benjamin returned to the children of Israel at that time, and the children of Israel gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the daughters of Jabis Galaad; and they were content.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπέστρεψε Βενιαμὶν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, καὶ ἔδωκαν αὐτοῖς οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ τὰς γυναῖκας ἃς ἐζωοποίησαν ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων Ἰαβὶς Γαλαάδ· καὶ ἤρεσεν αὐτοῖς οὕτω.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead; and yet so they sufficed them not.

ThomsonSo they were pleased, and the people relented for Benjamin, because the Lord had made a breach among the tribes of Israel.

BrentonAnd the people relented for Benjamin, because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ὁ λαὸς παρεκλήθη ἐπὶ τῷ Βενιαμὶν, ὅτι ἐποίησε Κύριος διακοπὴν ἐν ταῖς φυλαῖς Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

JPSAnd the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

ThomsonThen the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for wives for the rest? For all the women of Benjamin are destroyed:

BrentonAnd the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for wives for them that remain? for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπον οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῆς συναγωγῆς, τί ποιήσωμεν τοῖς περισσοῖς εἰς γυναῖκας; ὅτι ἠφανίσθη ἀπὸ Βενιαμὶν γυνή.

KJVThen the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

JPSThen the elders of the congregation said: ‘How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?’

Thomson(Now they had determined that the inheritance of the Benjaminites should belong to them who had escaped, that a tribe might not be blotted out from Israel)

BrentonAnd they said, There must be an inheritance of them that are escaped of Benjamin; and so a tribe shall not be destroyed out of Israel.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν, κληρονομία διασωζομένων τῶν Βενιαμίν· καὶ οὐκ ἐξαλειφθήσεται φυλὴ ἀπὸ Ἰσραὴλ,

KJVAnd they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.

JPSAnd they said: ‘They that are escaped must be as an inheritance for Benjamin, that a tribe be not blotted out from Israel.

Thomsonfor we cannot give them any of our daughters for wives, for we have sworn among the children of Israel, saying, Cursed be the man who giveth a wife to a Benjaminite.

BrentonFor we shall not be able to give them wives of our daughters, because we swore among the children of Israel, saying, Cursed is he that gives a wife to Benjamin.

Greekὅτι ἡμεῖς οὐ δυνησόμεθα δοῦναι αὐτοῖς γυναῖκας ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων ἡμῶν, ὅτι ὠμόσαμεν ἐν υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ, λέγοντες, ἐπικατάρατος ὁ διδοὺς γυναῖκα τῷ Βενιαμίν.

KJVHowbeit 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.

JPSHowbeit 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.’

ThomsonThen they said, Behold there is a festival of the Lord at Selom, which is kept yearly, on the north of Baithel, towards the rising of the sun, on the high way which goeth up from Baithel to Sychem, and on the south of Lebona.

BrentonAnd they said, Lo! now there is a feast of the Lord from year to year in Selom, which is on the north of Bæthel, eastward on the way that goes up from Bæthel to Sychem, and from the south of Lebona.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν, ἰδοὺ δὴ ἑορτὴ Κυρίου ἐν Σηλὼμ ἀφʼ ἡμερῶν εἰς ἡμέρας, ἥ ἐστιν ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ τῆς Βαιθὴλ, κατʼ ἀνατολὰς ἡλίου ἐπὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς ἀναβαινούσης ἀπὸ Βαιθὴλ εἰς Συχὲμ, καὶ ἀπὸ Νότου τῆς Λεβωνᾶ.

KJVThen they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.

JPSAnd they said: ‘Behold, there is the feast of the LORD from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.’

ThomsonSo they gave a charge to the Benjaminites saying, Go and lie in wait among the vineyards,

BrentonAnd they charged the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;

GreekΚαὶ ἐνετείλαντο τοῖς υἱοῖς Βενιαμεὶν, λέγοντες, πορεύεσθε καὶ ἐνεδρεύσατε ἐν τοῖς ἀμπελῶσι,

KJVTherefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;

JPSAnd they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying: ‘Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;

Thomsonand watch, and behold when the daughters of the inhabitants of Selom go out to dance in choirs, start out from the vineyards, and seize for yourselves every man a wife from among the daughters of Selom, and go to the land of Benjamin.

Brentonand ye shall see; and lo! if there come out the daughters of the inhabitants of Selom to dance in dances, then shall ye go out of the vineyards and seize for yourselves every man a wife of the daughters of Selom, and go ye into the land of Benjamin.

Greekκαὶ ὄψεσθε, καὶ ἰδοὺ, ἐὰν ἐξέλθωσιν αἱ θυγατέρες τῶν οἰκούντων Σηλὼ χορεύειν ἐν τοῖς χοροῖς, καὶ ἐξελεύσεσθε ἐκ τῶν ἀμπελώνων, καὶ ἁρπάσατε αὑτοῖς ἀνὴρ γυναῖκα ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων Σηλὼμ, καὶ πορεύεσθε εἰς γῆν Βενιαμίν.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSand see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the 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.

ThomsonAnd when their fathers or their brothers come to us, to enter a complaint before us, we will say to them, Grant them as a favour to us, because we did not take every man a woman at the battle. Seeing you have not given them, you have, as it were, accidentally transgressed.

BrentonAnd it shall come to pass, when their fathers or their brethren come to dispute with us, that we will say to them, Grant them freely to us, for we have not taken every man his wife in the battle: because ye did not give to them according to the occasion, ye transgressed.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὅταν ἔλθωσιν οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν ἢ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν κρίνεσθαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἐροῦμεν αὐτοῖς, ἔλεος ποιήσατε ἡμῖν αὐτὰς, ὅτι οὐκ ἐλάβομεν ἀνὴρ γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ παρατάξει, ὅτι οὐχ ὑμεῖς ἐδώκατε αὐτοῖς, ὡς κλῆρος πλημμελήσατε.

KJVAnd it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.

JPSAnd it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come to strive with us, that we will say unto them: Grant them graciously unto us; because we took not for each man of them his wife in battle; neither did ye give them unto them, that ye should now be guilty.’

ThomsonAnd the children of Benjamin did so. And having taken wives according to their number from among the choirs whom they surprised, they went, and returned to their inheritance, and rebuilt their cities and dwelt therein.

BrentonAnd the children of Benjamin did so; and they took wives according to their number from the dancers whom they seized: and they went and returned to their inheritance, and built the cities, and dwelt in them.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως οἱ υἱοὶ Βενιαμίν· καὶ ἔλαβον γυναῖκας εἰς ἀριθμὸν αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῶν χορευουσῶν ὧν ἥρπασαν· καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν, καὶ ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτῶν· καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν τὰς πόλεις, καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐν αὐταῖς.

KJVAnd the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.

JPSAnd the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they carried off; and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and built the cities, and dwelt in them.

ThomsonAnd the children of Israel went at that time every man to his tribe, and to his kindred, and went out thence every man to his possession.

BrentonAnd the children of Israel went thence at that time every man to his tribe and his kindred; and they went thence every man to his inheritance.

GreekΚαὶ περιεπάτησαν ἐκεῖθεν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἀνὴρ εἰς φυλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς συγγένειαν αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐξῆλθον ἐκεῖθεν ἀνὴρ εἰς τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.

JPSAnd the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.

ThomsonAnd in those days, there being no king in Israel, every man did what was right in his own eyes.

BrentonAnd in those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own sight.

GreekἘν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ἰσραήλ· ἀνὴρ τὸ εὐθὲς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐποίει.

KJVIn those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

JPSIn those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes.