Judges 21

Judges 21:1

AMP: Now the men of Israel had sworn [an oath] at Mizpah, “None of us shall give his daughter in marriage to [a man of] Benjamin.”

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

BSB: Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”

DARBY: Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter to the Benjaminites as wife.

DRA: Now the children of Israel had also sworn in Maspha, saying: None of us shall give of his daughters to the children of Benjamin to wife.

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

Judges 21:2

AMP: So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. [Judg 20:27]

ASV: And the people came to Beth-el, and sat there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.

BSB: So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, lifting up their voices and weeping bitterly.

DARBY: And the people came to Bethel, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly,

DRA: And they all came to the house of God in Silo, and abiding before him till the evening, lifted up their voices, and began to lament and weep, saying:

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

Judges 21:3

AMP: They said, “O Lord, God of Israel, why has this come about in Israel, that there should be today one tribe missing from Israel?”

ASV: And they said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to-day one tribe lacking in Israel?

BSB: “Why, O LORD God of Israel,” they cried out, “has this happened in Israel? Today in Israel one tribe is missing!”

DARBY: and said, Jehovah, God of Israel, why is it come to pass in Israel, that there should be this day one tribe lacking in Israel?

DRA: O Lord God of Israel, why is so great an evil come to pass in thy people, that this day one tribe should be taken away from among us?

KJV: 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?

Judges 21:4

AMP: And the next day the people got up early and built an altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

ASV: 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.

BSB: The next day the people got up early, built an altar there, and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings.

DARBY: And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered up burnt-offerings and peace-offerings.

DRA: And rising early the next day, they built an altar: and offered there holocausts, and victims of peace, and they said:

KJV: 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.

Judges 21:5

AMP: Then the sons of Israel said, “Which one from 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 at Mizpah, saying, “He shall certainly be put to death.”

ASV: And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up in the assembly unto Jehovah? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up unto Jehovah to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely be put to death.

BSB: The Israelites asked, “Who among all the tribes of Israel did not come to the assembly before the LORD?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah would surely be put to death.

DARBY: And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation to Jehovah? For they had [made] a great oath concerning him that came not up to Jehovah to Mizpah, saying, He shall certainly be put to death.

DRA: Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the army of the Lord? for they had bound themselves with a great oath, when they were in Maspha, that whosoever were wanting should be slain.

KJV: 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.

Judges 21:6

AMP: And the sons of Israel felt sorry [and had compassion] for their brother Benjamin and said, “One tribe has been cut off from Israel today.

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

BSB: And the Israelites grieved for their brothers, the Benjamites, and said, “Today a tribe is cut off from Israel.

DARBY: And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, To-day is one tribe extirpated from Israel.

DRA: And the children of Israel being moved with repentance for their brother Benjamin, began to say: One tribe is taken away from Israel.

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

Judges 21:7

AMP: What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn [an oath] by the Lord that we will not give them any of our daughters as wives?”

ASV: How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by Jehovah that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?

BSB: What should we do about wives for the survivors, since we have sworn by the LORD not to give them our daughters in marriage?”

DARBY: What shall we do for wives for them that remain? since we have sworn by Jehovah that we will not give them of our daughters for wives.

DRA: Whence shall they take wives? For we have all in general sworn, not to give our daughters to them.

KJV: 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?

Judges 21:8

AMP: And they said, “Which one is there of the tribes from Israel that did not come up to Mizpah to the Lord?” And behold, [it was discovered that] no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly.

ASV: And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up unto Jehovah to Mizpah? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

BSB: So they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah?” And, in fact, no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp for the assembly.

DARBY: And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpah to Jehovah? And behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-Gilead, to the congregation;

DRA: Therefore they said: Who is thereof all the tribes of Israel, that came not up to the Lord to Maspha. And behold the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad were found not to have been in that army.

KJV: And 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 Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

Judges 21:9

AMP: For when the people were assembled, behold, there was not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.

ASV: For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.

BSB: For when the people were counted, none of the residents of Jabesh-gilead were there.

DARBY: for the people were numbered, and behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead there.

DRA: (At that time also when they were in Silo, no one of them was found there.)

KJV: For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.

Judges 21:10

AMP: And the congregation sent twelve thousand of the most courageous men there, and commanded them saying, “Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the sword, including the women and the children.

ASV: And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones.

BSB: So the congregation sent 12,000 of their most valiant men and commanded them: “Go and put to the sword those living in Jabesh-gilead, including women and children.

DARBY: And the assembly sent thither twelve thousand men of the most valiant and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead with the edge of the sword, and the women and the children.

DRA: So they sent ten thousand of the most valiant men, and commanded them, saying: Go and put the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad to the sword, with their wives and their children.

KJV: And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.

Judges 21:11

AMP: And this is the thing that you shall do; you shall utterly destroy every male and every woman who is not a virgin.”

ASV: And this is the thing that ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

BSB: This is what you are to do: Devote to destruction every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.”

DARBY: And this is the thing which ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain with man.

DRA: And this is what you shall observe: Every male, and all women that have known men, you shall kill, but the virgins you shall save.

KJV: And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

Judges 21:12

AMP: And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man intimately; and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

ASV: And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins, that had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

BSB: So they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young women who had not had relations with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.

DARBY: And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead four hundred young women that were virgins, who had known no man by lying with any male, and they brought them to the camp, to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

DRA: And there were found of Jabes Galaad four hundred virgins, that had not known the bed of a man, and they brought them to the camp Silo, into the land of Chanaan.

KJV: And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

Judges 21:13

AMP: Then the whole congregation sent word to the [surviving] sons of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them.

ASV: And the whole congregation sent and spake to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace unto them.

BSB: Then the whole congregation sent a message of peace to the Benjamites who were at the rock of Rimmon.

DARBY: And the whole assembly sent to speak to the children of Benjamin that were at the cliff of Rimmon, and to proclaim peace to them.

DRA: And they sent messengers to the children of Benjamin, that were in the rock Remmon, and commanded them to receive them in peace.

KJV: And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.

Judges 21:14

AMP: So [the survivors of] Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the women of Jabesh-gilead; but there were not enough [to provide wives] for them.

ASV: And Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.

BSB: And at that time the Benjamites returned and were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough women for all of them.

DARBY: And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them the wives whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-Gilead; but even so they found not enough for them.

DRA: And the children of Benjamin came at that time, and wives were given them of the daughters of Jabes Galaad: but they found no others, whom they might give in like manner.

KJV: And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.

Judges 21:15

AMP: And the people were sorry [and had compassion] for [the survivors of the tribe of] Benjamin because the Lord had made a gap in the tribes of Israel.

ASV: And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that Jehovah had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

BSB: The people grieved for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a void in the tribes of Israel.

DARBY: And the people repented them for Benjamin, because Jehovah had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

DRA: And all Israel was very sorry, and repented for the destroying of one tribe out of Israel.

KJV: And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

Judges 21:16

AMP: Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those [men] who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”

ASV: Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

BSB: Then the elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”

DARBY: And the elders of the assembly said, What shall we do for wives for them that remain? for the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin.

DRA: And the ancients said: What shall we do with the rest, that have not received wives? for all the women in Benjamin are dead.

KJV: Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

Judges 21:17

AMP: They said, “There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe will not be wiped out from Israel.

ASV: And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that are escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not blotted out from Israel.

BSB: They added, “There must be heirs for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out.

DARBY: And they said, There must be a possession for those of Benjamin that have escaped, that a tribe be not blotted out of Israel.

DRA: And we must use all care, and provide with great diligence, that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.

KJV: And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.

Judges 21:18

AMP: But we cannot give them wives from our daughters.” For the sons of Israel had sworn [an oath], “Cursed is he who gives a wife to [a man from the tribe of] Benjamin.”

ASV: Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.

BSB: But we cannot give them our daughters as wives.”For the Israelites had sworn, “Cursed is he who gives a wife to a Benjamite.”

DARBY: But we cannot give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to the Benjaminites!

DRA: For as to our own daughters we cannot give them, being bound with an oath and a curse, whereby we said: Cursed be he that shall give Benjamin any of his daughters to wife.

KJV: Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.

Judges 21:19

AMP: So they said, “Listen, there is the yearly feast of the Lord at Shiloh, which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south side of Lebonah.”

ASV: And they said, Behold, there is a feast of Jehovah from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.

BSB: “But look,” they said, “there is a yearly feast to the LORD in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel east of the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.”

DARBY: And they said, Behold, there is a feast of Jehovah from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north side of Bethel, toward the sun-rising of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.

DRA: So they took counsel, and said: Behold there is a yearly solemnity of the Lord in Silo, which is situate on the north of the city of Bethel, and on the east side of the way, that goeth from Bethel to Sichem, and on the south of the town of Lebona.

KJV: Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.

Judges 21:20

AMP: So they instructed the sons of Benjamin, saying, “Go, set an ambush in the vineyards,

ASV: And they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,

BSB: So they commanded the Benjamites: “Go, hide in the vineyards

DARBY: And they commanded the sons of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;

DRA: And they commanded the children of Benjamin, and said: Go, and lie hid in the vineyards,

KJV: Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;

Judges 21:21

AMP: and watch; if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then you shall come out of the vineyards and each of you shall catch his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of [the tribe of] Benjamin.

ASV: and see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

BSB: and watch. When you see the daughters of Shiloh come out to perform their dances, each of you is to come out of the vineyards, catch for himself a wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

DARBY: and see, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

DRA: And when you shall see the daughters of Silo come out, as the custom is, to dance, come ye on a sudden out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife among them, and go into the land of Benjamin.

KJV: And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

Judges 21:22

AMP: When their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we shall say to them, ‘Give them to us voluntarily, because we did not take a wife for each man of Benjamin in battle, nor did you give wives to them, for that would have made you guilty [of breaking your oath].’ ”

ASV: And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come to complain unto us, that we will say unto them, Grant them graciously unto us, because we took not for each man [of them] his wife in battle, neither did ye give them unto them, else would ye now be guilty.

BSB: When their fathers or brothers come to us to complain, we will tell them, ‘Do us a favor by helping them, since we did not get wives for each of them in the war. Since you did not actually give them your daughters, you have no guilt.’”

DARBY: And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come to complain to us, that we will say to them, Gratify us with them, because we did not take each man his wife in the war; for ye did not give them to them, that ye should now be guilty.

DRA: And when their fathers and their brethren shall come, and shall begin to complain against you, and to chide, we will say to them: Have pity on them for they took them not away as by the right of war or conquest, but when they asked to have them, you gave them not, and the fault was committed on your part.

KJV: And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.

Judges 21:23

AMP: So the sons of [the tribe of] Benjamin did as instructed and took wives according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried away. Then they went and returned to their inheritance, and rebuilt the towns and lived in them.

ASV: And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they carried off: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and built the cities, and dwelt in them.

BSB: The Benjamites did as instructed and carried away the number of women they needed from the dancers they caught. They went back to their own inheritance, rebuilt their cities, and settled in them.

DARBY: And the children of Benjamin did so, and took wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught; and they went and returned to their inheritance, and built the cities, and dwelt in them.

DRA: And the children of Benjamin did, as they had been commanded: and according to their number, they carried off for themselves every man his wife of them that were dancing: and they went into their possession and built up their cities, and dwelt in them.

KJV: And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.

Judges 21:24

AMP: The sons of Israel departed from there at that time, each man to his tribe and family, and each man went from there to his inheritance.

ASV: And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.

BSB: And at that time, each of the Israelites returned from there to his own tribe and clan, each to his own inheritance.

DARBY: And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.

DRA: The children of Israel also returned by their tribes, and families, to their dwellings. In those days there was no king in Israel: but every one did that which seemed right to himself.

KJV: And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.

Judges 21:25

AMP: In those days [when the judges governed] there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.

ASV: In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

BSB: In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

DARBY: In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.

KJV: In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.