Judges 21:3-11
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 21
3And they said, 'Why, Lord, God of Israel, has this happened in Israel, that one tribe is missing today from Israel?' 4And it came about the next day that the people got up early and built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5Then the sons of Israel said, 'Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not go up to the Lord in the assembly?' For they had taken a solemn oath concerning anyone who did not go up to the Lord at Mizpah, saying, 'He shall certainly be put to death.'
6And the sons of Israel were sorry for their brother Benjamin, and said, 'Today one tribe is cut off from Israel!
7What are we to do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the Lord not to give them any of our daughters as wives?'
8And they said, 'What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not go up to the Lord at Mizpah?' And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.
9For when the people were counted, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there.
10And the congregation sent twelve thousand of the valiant warriors there, and commanded them, saying, 'Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, along with the women and the children.
11And this is the thing that you shall do: you shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who has slept with a male.'
King James Version
4And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5And 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.
6And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
7How 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?
8And 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.
9For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.
10And 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.
11And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 21
3and cried out, "Why, Lord God of Israel, has it occurred that one tribe is missing in Israel today?" 4The next day the people got up early, built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. 5The Israelites asked, "Who of all the tribes of Israel didn’t come to the Lord with the assembly?" For a great oath had been taken that anyone who had not come to the Lord at Mizpah would certainly be put to death.
6But the Israelites had compassion on their brothers, the Benjaminites, and said, "Today a tribe has been cut off from Israel.
7What should we do about wives for the survivors? We’ve sworn to the Lord not to give them any of our daughters as wives."
8They asked, "Which city among the tribes of Israel didn’t come to the Lord at Mizpah?" It turned out that no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp and the assembly.
9For when the roll was called, no men were there from the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead.
New Living Translation
4Early the next morning the people built an altar and presented their burnt offerings and peace offerings on it.
5Then they said, 'Who among the tribes of Israel did not join us at Mizpah when we held our assembly in the presence of the Lord?' At that time they had taken a solemn oath in the Lord’s presence, vowing that anyone who refused to come would be put to death.
6The Israelites felt sorry for their brother Benjamin and said, 'Today one of the tribes of Israel has been cut off.
7How can we find wives for the few who remain, since we have sworn by the Lord not to give them our daughters in marriage?'
English Standard Version
Chapter 21
3And they said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?" 4And the next day the people rose early and built there an altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. 5And the people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the Lord?" For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death." 6And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. 7What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?"
8And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah?" And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly.
9For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there.
10So the congregation sent 12,000 of their bravest men there and commanded them, "Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword; also the women and the little ones.
11This is what you shall do: every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction."
New International Version
6Now the Israelites grieved for the tribe of Benjamin, their fellow Israelites. "Today one tribe is cut off from Israel," they said.
7"How can we provide wives for those who are left, since we have taken an oath by the Lord not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?"
8Then they asked, "Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to assemble before the Lord at Mizpah?" They discovered that no one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the camp for the assembly.
9For when they counted the people, they found that none of the people of Jabesh Gilead were there.
New King James Version
4So it was, on the next morning, that the people rose early and built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5The children of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up with the assembly to the Lord?” For they had made a great oath concerning anyone who had not come up to the Lord at Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.”
6And the children of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel today.
7What shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them our daughters as wives?”
8And they said, “What one is there from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to Mizpah to the Lord?” And, in fact, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh Gilead to the assembly.
9For when the people were counted, indeed, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead was there.
10So the congregation sent out there twelve thousand of their most valiant men, and commanded them, saying, “Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, including the women and children.
11And this is the thing that you shall do: You shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who has known a man intimately.”
