Why did the men of Israel swear not to give their daughters to Benjamin?

The men of Israel made this oath after hearing about the terrible sin done in Gibeah and seeing that the tribe of Benjamin chose to protect the guilty men instead of handing them over. In their strong anger against this evil, they treated Benjamin like the nations that were to be destroyed and swore that none of them would give a daughter as a wife to Benjamin. Their vow came from a desire for justice, but it later created a painful problem when Benjamin was nearly wiped out.

Why did Israel weep so strongly before God in this passage?

The people came to the house of God and stayed there until evening, lifting up their voices and weeping hard. They were not only thinking about the lives lost in battle, but about the near loss of an entire tribe from Israel. They cried out, asking why it had come to this, that one tribe was lacking. Their grief shows that while they hated the sin that had been done, they still cared deeply for Benjamin as their brother and were troubled by the outcome of their own actions and oath.

What does it mean that Israel asked, “Why is this come to pass in Israel”?

When they said, “Why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?” they were wrestling with what had happened. They had fought a just cause against great wickedness, yet now they saw that their war and their oath had left Benjamin almost gone, with only a few men left and no wives. This question is not blaming God in a proud way, but showing sorrow and confusion. They are bringing their pain and the hard results of their choices honestly before the Lord.

Why did Israel build an altar and offer burnt and peace offerings here?

On the next day, the people rose early, built an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. This showed they were seeking God, not just talking among themselves. The burnt offerings pointed to atonement for sin, and the peace offerings expressed fellowship and thankfulness. By doing this, they were likely confessing the harshness of what had happened, asking for mercy, and seeking guidance. They sensed that even when justice is done, it must be carried out with a humble heart and compassion.

What was the “great oath” about those who did not come to Mizpeh?

Besides the vow about not giving wives to Benjamin, the people had also made a strong oath about any group that refused to come up to Mizpeh when all Israel was called together. They had said that whoever did not come up to the Lord at Mizpeh “shall surely be put to death.” This shows how seriously they took unity in dealing with sin. Later in the chapter, this oath leads them to look for any town that had not joined the assembly, as they tried to solve the problem of wives for the remaining Benjaminites.

Why did the children of Israel repent for Benjamin their brother?

When it says they “repented them for Benjamin their brother,” it means they were deeply sorry about how far things had gone. They did not suddenly think the sin at Gibeah was small, but they grieved the near loss of a whole tribe. They saw Benjamin not only as offenders, but as brothers in the covenant people. Their hearts were torn between their oath, the justice they had tried to carry out, and the pity they now felt. This regret led them to think hard about how to restore Benjamin.

What does the question about wives for those who remain in Benjamin mean?

Their question, “How shall we do for wives for them that remain?” shows the practical side of their grief. They knew about the six hundred surviving men of Benjamin hiding at the rock, and they wanted the tribe to continue. But they had sworn by the Lord not to give their daughters as wives. They felt trapped between keeping their oath and letting a tribe die out. This tension shows the weight of making strong vows and how zeal, even for a right cause, can lead to hard and painful outcomes.

What does this passage teach about vows and oaths before God?

This passage shows that oaths made in great zeal can have heavy and unexpected results. Israel’s vow not to give daughters to Benjamin came from anger against terrible sin, yet later it stood in the way of healing and restoring the tribe. They were careful not to break what they had sworn by the Lord, even when it hurt. At the same time, their tears and offerings show that vows should not be made lightly. It reminds us that our words before God matter and can shape whole communities.

Judg.21.1

Judges 21:1

KJV

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

Mourning Lost Tribe

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

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

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?

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.

And 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.

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

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?

Cross References

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