Judges 21

שופטים פרק כ״א

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: Judges | Chapter: 21 of 21 | Day: 45 of 742

Date: March 28, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Judges 21 serves as the final chapter of the book, and it is among the most morally unsettling passages in all of biblical literature. Having nearly annihilated the tribe of Benjamin in the civil war recounted in chapters 19-20, the Israelites now confront the consequences of their own zealotry. The chapter opens with the people weeping at Bethel (or Shiloh, as the commentators debate), crying out “Why has this happened in Israel, that one tribe must now be missing from Israel?” (v. 3). The irony is devastating: the very community that prosecuted the war now grieves the outcome it produced. The oath sworn at Mizpah — that no man would give his daughter in marriage to a Benjaminite — compounds the crisis, transforming righteous anger into a self-imposed trap from which no straightforward exit exists.

The chapter unfolds through two increasingly desperate stratagems to secure wives for the 600 surviving Benjaminites. The first involves the punishment of Jabesh-gilead for failing to attend the assembly at Mizpah, resulting in the massacre of that city and the seizure of 400 virgins. The second, even more troubling, involves instructing the remaining 200 wifeless Benjaminites to hide in the vineyards near Shiloh and abduct women during the annual festival (hag Hashem, v. 19). The elders devise a legalistic argument to circumvent their oath: since the women were taken by force rather than given voluntarily, the fathers technically did not “give” (noten) their daughters to Benjamin. As Rashi explains (v. 22), the elders reassure the fathers that “you were not the ones who provided them with your daughters, so that you would now be blameworthy.” This legal fiction reveals a community more concerned with the letter of its oath than with the spirit of justice.

The literary structure of the chapter mirrors the broader pattern of Judges, in which attempts to solve one crisis generate new moral failures. The destruction of Jabesh-gilead to procure wives echoes the very violence against Benjamin that caused the crisis in the first place. The abduction of the dancing women at Shiloh — a scene that should evoke joy and celebration — is transformed into an act of violation. The text offers no divine speech, no prophetic rebuke, and no judgment. God is conspicuously silent throughout, mentioned only in the people’s oath and their sacrifices. This theological absence is itself a statement: in the world of Judges, human agency has run so far aground that even divine intervention has seemingly withdrawn.

The chapter’s closing verse — “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did as they pleased” (be-yamim ha-hem ein melekh be-Yisrael, ish ha-yashar be-einav ya’aseh) — functions as both an epilogue for the entire book and a prologue to the monarchy narratives that follow in Samuel. This refrain, which appears four times in Judges (17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25), frames the era not as one of heroic independence but of moral disintegration. Radak observes that this verse points forward to the coming of Samuel the prophet, who would begin to restore order. The “right in his own eyes” (ha-yashar be-einav) stands in implicit contrast to “the right in the eyes of God” (ha-yashar be-einei Hashem), a standard the book has shown Israel repeatedly failing to meet.

What makes Judges 21 so powerful as a conclusion is that it refuses to offer resolution or comfort. The tribe of Benjamin is technically saved, but through methods that involve mass slaughter and mass abduction. The community’s oaths, intended to enforce moral accountability, become instruments of further suffering. The entire arc from chapter 19 — beginning with the rape and murder of the concubine at Gibeah — concludes not with justice restored but with violence perpetuated under a veneer of legality. It is a sober and unflinching portrait of a society in which the absence of legitimate authority (melekh) leads not to freedom but to chaos, and in which even collective religious assemblies and solemn oaths cannot substitute for genuine moral leadership.

פרק כ״א · Chapter 21

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וְאִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נִשְׁבַּ֥ע בַּמִּצְפָּ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אִ֣ישׁ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ לֹא־יִתֵּ֥ן בִּתּ֛וֹ לְבִנְיָמִ֖ן לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

English:

Now Israel’s side had taken an oath at Mizpah: “None of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjaminite.”

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֤א הָעָם֙ בֵּֽי��־אֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ שָׁם֙ עַד־הָעֶ֔רֶב לִפְנֵ֖י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ קוֹלָ֔ם וַיִּבְכּ֖וּ בְּכִ֥י גָדֽוֹל׃

English:

The people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening. They wailed and wept bitterly,

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ לָמָ֗ה יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הָ֥יְתָה זֹּ֖את בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְהִפָּקֵ֥ד הַיּ֛וֹם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שֵׁ֥בֶט אֶחָֽד׃

English:

and they said, “O ETERNAL God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that one tribe must now be missing from Israel?”

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַֽיְהִי֙ מִֽמׇּחֳרָ֔ת וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ הָעָ֔ם וַיִּבְנוּ־שָׁ֖ם מִזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיַּעֲל֥וּ עֹל֖וֹת וּשְׁלָמִֽים׃ {פ}

English:

Early the next day, the people built an altar there, and they brought burnt offerings and offerings of well-being.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִ֠י אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־עָלָ֧ה בַקָּהָ֛ל מִכׇּל־שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּי֩ הַשְּׁבוּעָ֨ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֜ה הָיְתָ֗ה לַ֠אֲשֶׁ֠ר לֹא־עָלָ֨ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֧ה הַמִּצְפָּ֛ה לֵאמֹ֖ר מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃

English:

The Israelites asked, “Is there anyone from all the tribes of Israel who failed to come up to the assembly before GOD?” For a solemn oath had been taken concerning anyone who did not go up to GOD at Mizpah: “He shall be put to death.”

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיִּנָּֽחֲמוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־בִּנְיָמִ֖ן אָחִ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ נִגְדַּ֥ע הַיּ֛וֹם שֵׁ֥בֶט אֶחָ֖ד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

The Israelites now relented toward their kin the Benjaminites, and they said, “This day one tribe has been cut off from Israel!

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

מַה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם לַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים לְנָשִׁ֑ים וַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ נִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּ בַֽיהֹוָ֔ה לְבִלְתִּ֛י תֵּת־לָהֶ֥ם מִבְּנוֹתֵ֖ינוּ לְנָשִֽׁים׃

English:

What can we do to provide wives for those who are left, seeing that we have sworn by GOD not to give any of our daughters to them in marriage?”

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מִ֗י אֶחָד֙ מִשִּׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־עָלָ֥ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה וְ֠הִנֵּ֠ה לֹ֣א בָא־אִ֧ישׁ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה מִיָּבֵ֥ישׁ גִּלְעָ֖ד אֶל־הַקָּהָֽל׃

English:

They inquired, “Is there anyone from the tribes of Israel who did not go up to GOD at Mizpah?” Now no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp, to the assembly.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיִּתְפָּקֵ֖ד הָעָ֑ם וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֵֽין־שָׁם֙ אִ֔ישׁ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֖י יָבֵ֥שׁ גִּלְעָֽד׃

English:

For, when the roll of the troops was taken, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was present.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ־שָׁ֣ם הָעֵדָ֗ה שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֣י הֶחָ֑יִל וַיְצַוּ֨וּ אוֹתָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר לְ֠כ֠וּ וְהִכִּיתֶ֞ם אֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֨י יָבֵ֤שׁ גִּלְעָד֙ לְפִי־חֶ֔רֶב וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְהַטָּֽף׃

English:

So the assemblage dispatched 12,000 of the warriors, instructing them as follows: “Go and put the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead to the sword, women and children included.

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וְזֶ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ ��ׇּל־זָכָ֗ר וְכׇל־אִשָּׁ֛ה יֹדַ֥עַת מִשְׁכַּב־זָכָ֖ר תַּחֲרִֽימוּ׃

English:

This is what you are to do: Proscribe every male, and every woman who has known a man carnally.”

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַֽיִּמְצְא֞וּ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵ֣י ׀ יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֗ד אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ נַעֲרָ֣ה בְתוּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־יָדְעָ֛ה אִ֖ישׁ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב זָכָ֑ר וַיָּבִ֨אוּ אוֹתָ֤ם אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ שִׁלֹ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃ {פ}

English:

They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 maidens who had not known a man carnally; and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.ain the land of Canaan I.e., west of the Jordan, while Jabesh-gilead is east of the Jordan.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ כׇּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַֽיְדַבְּרוּ֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּסֶ֣לַע רִמּ֑וֹן וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם שָׁלֽוֹם׃

English:

Then the whole community sent word to the Benjaminites who were at the Rock of Rimmon, and offered them terms of peace.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֤שׇׁב בִּנְיָמִן֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ הַנָּשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר חִיּ֔וּ מִנְּשֵׁ֖י יָבֵ֣שׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד וְלֹא־מָצְא֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם כֵּֽן׃

English:

Thereupon the Benjaminites returned, and they gave them the maidensbmaidens Heb. “women”; cf. v. 12. who had been spared from the women of Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough of them.cBut there were not enough of them Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וְהָעָ֥ם נִחָ֖ם לְבִנְיָמִ֑ן כִּֽי־עָשָׂ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה פֶּ֖רֶץ בְּשִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

Now the people had relented toward Benjamin, for GOD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ זִקְנֵ֣י הָֽעֵדָ֔ה מַה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לַנּוֹתָרִ֖ים לְנָשִׁ֑ים כִּֽי־נִשְׁמְדָ֥ה מִבִּנְיָמִ֖ן אִשָּֽׁה׃

English:

So the elders of the community asked, “What can we do about wives for those who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been killed off?”

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ יְרֻשַּׁ֥ת פְּלֵיטָ֖ה לְבִנְיָמִ֑ן וְלֹא־יִמָּחֶ֥ה שֵׁ֖בֶט מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

For they said, “There must be a saving remnant for Benjamin, that a tribe may not be blotted out of Israel;

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ לֹ֥א נוּכַ֛ל לָתֵת־לָהֶ֥ם נָשִׁ֖ים מִבְּנוֹתֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־נִשְׁבְּע֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אָר֕וּר נֹתֵ֥ן אִשָּׁ֖ה לְבִנְיָמִֽן׃ {ס}        

English:

yet we cannot give them any of our daughters as wives,” since the Israelites had taken an oath: “Cursed be anyone who gives a wife to Benjamin!”

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַיֹּאמְר֡וּ הִנֵּה֩ חַג־יְהֹוָ֨ה בְּשִׁל֜וֹ מִיָּמִ֣ים ׀ יָמִ֗ימָה אֲשֶׁ֞ר מִצְּפ֤וֹנָה לְבֵֽית־אֵל֙ מִזְרְחָ֣ה הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ לִ֨מְסִלָּ֔ה הָעֹלָ֥ה מִבֵּֽית־אֵ֖ל שְׁכֶ֑מָה וּמִנֶּ֖גֶב לִלְבוֹנָֽה׃

English:

They said, “The annual feast of GOD is now being held at Shiloh.” (It lies north of Bethel, east of the highway that runs from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.)

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

(ויצו) [וַיְצַוּ֕וּ] אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר לְכ֖וּ וַאֲרַבְתֶּ֥ם בַּכְּרָמִֽים׃

English:

So they instructed the Benjaminites as follows: “Go and lie in wait in the vineyards.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וּרְאִיתֶ֗ם וְ֠הִנֵּ֠ה אִם־יֵ֨צְא֥וּ בְנוֹת־שִׁילוֹ֮ לָח֣וּל בַּמְּחֹלוֹת֒ וִֽיצָאתֶם֙ מִן־הַכְּרָמִ֔ים וַחֲטַפְתֶּ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם אִ֥ישׁ אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ מִבְּנ֣וֹת שִׁיל֑וֹ וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֖ם אֶ֥רֶץ בִּנְיָמִֽן׃

English:

As soon as you see the daughters of Shiloh coming out to join in the dances, come out from the vineyards; let each of you seize a wife from among the daughters of Shiloh, and be off for the land of Benjamin.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וְהָיָ֡ה כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣אוּ אֲבוֹתָם֩ א֨וֹ אֲחֵיהֶ֜ם (לרוב) [לָרִ֣יב ׀] אֵלֵ֗ינוּ וְאָמַ֤רְנוּ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ חׇנּ֣וּנוּ אוֹתָ֔ם כִּ֣י לֹ֥א לָקַ֛חְנוּ אִ֥ישׁ אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה כִּ֣י לֹ֥א אַתֶּ֛ם נְתַתֶּ֥ם לָהֶ֖ם כָּעֵ֥ת תֶּאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ {ס}        

English:

And if their fathers or brothers come to us to complain, we shall say to them, ‘Be generous to them for our sake! We could not provide any of them with a wife on account of the war, and you would have incurred guilt if you yourselves had given them [wives].’”dBe generous … given them [wives]. Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן וַיִּשְׂא֤וּ נָשִׁים֙ לְמִסְפָּרָ֔ם מִן־הַמְּחֹלְל֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּזָ֑לוּ וַיֵּלְכ֗וּ וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ אֶל־נַ֣חֲלָתָ֔ם וַיִּבְנוּ֙ אֶת־הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ בָּהֶֽם׃

English:

The Benjaminites did so. They took to wife, from the dancers whom they carried off, as many as they themselves numbered. Then they went back to their own territory, and rebuilt their towns and settled in them.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וַיִּתְהַלְּכ֨וּ מִשָּׁ֤ם בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא אִ֥ישׁ לְשִׁבְט֖וֹ וּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹ וַיֵּצְא֣וּ מִשָּׁ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ לְנַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃ {פ}

English:

Thereupon the Israelites dispersed to their own tribes and clans; everyone departed for their own territory.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם אֵ֥ין מֶ֖לֶךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִ֛ישׁ הַיָּשָׁ֥ר בְּעֵינָ֖יו יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃

English:

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did as they pleased.

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