Judges 21 Four hundred women are given to the Benjaminites

 Judges 21

Four hundred women are given to the Benjaminites

13 Then the whole assembly sent and spoke to the sons of Benjamin, who were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them.

14 And at the same time the Benjaminites returned; and they gave them the women they had kept alive, from the women of Jabes of Gilead: but these were not yet enough for them.

15 Then the people repented because of Benjamin: because the Lord had made an opening in the tribes of Israel.

16 And the elders of the gathering said, What shall we do about women for those who have remained, for the women of Benjamin are destroyed?

17 They said more: The inheritance of those who are left is from Benjamin, and no tribe of Israel should be destroyed.

18 But we will not be able to give them wives of our daughters, because the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin.

19 Then they said, "Behold, from year to year there is a solemnity of the Lord in Shiloh, which is celebrated to the north of Bethel, on the side of the rising sun, by the high road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and to the south of Lebona.

20 And they sent to the sons of Benjamin, saying, Go, and ambush yourselves in the vineyards.

21 And look, and, behold, the daughters of Silo went out dancing on ranches, and you came out of the vineyards, and snatch each woman from the daughters of Silo, and go to the land of Benjamin.

22 And will it be that when your parents or your brothers come to litigate with us, we will say to them: For our sake, have compassion on them, for in this war we do not take women for each one of them: because you did not give them to them, so that you would now remain guilty.

23 And the sons of Benjamin did so, and took women according to their number, of those who snatched from the dancing ranches: and they went away, and returned to the cities, and dwelt in them.

24 Then the children of Israel also left there, each for their own tribe and for their generation: and they left there, each for their inheritance.

25 In those days there was no king in Israel: but each one did what seemed right in his eyes.