Judges 21 The ruin of Jabes of Gilead

 Judges 21

The ruin of Jabes of Gilead

1 Now the men of Israel swore in Mizpah, saying, None of us will give his daughter to Benjamin to wife.

2 So the people came to Bethel, and they stayed there until evening before God: and they lifted up their voices, and did silver with great weeping.

3 And they said, Ah! Lord God of Israel, why did this happen in Israel, that today there is no tribe in Israel?

4 And it came to pass that the next morning the people arose and built an altar there; and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5 And the children of Israel said, Who of all the tribes of Israel did not go up to the gathering to the Lord? Because a great oath had been made about those who did not come to Mizpah to the Lord, saying: He will surely die.

6 And the children of Israel repented of their brother Benjamin, and said, Cut off is a tribe of Israel today.

7 What shall we do about women with those who have remained, for we have sworn by the Lord that none of our daughters would give them for a wife?

8 And they said, Are there any of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to Mizpah to the Lord? And behold, none of Jabes of Gilead came to the camp, to the congregation.

9 For the people were numbered: and, behold, none of the inhabitants of Jabes of Gilead was found there.

10 Then the gathering sent twelve thousand of the bravest men there, and ordered them, saying, Go, and with the edge of the sword I smote the inhabitants of Jabes of Gilead, and the women and children.

11 But this is what you will do: To every man and every woman who lies down with a man you will utterly destroy.

12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabes of Gilead four hundred virgin girls, who did not know a man lying with a man: and they brought them to the camp, to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.