What does Judges 21:5 mean?
"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 21:5
The verse Judges 21:5 in the King James Version reads, "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." This verse comes at the conclusion of the book of Judges, which describes a period of turmoil and unrest in the history of Israel.
In this verse, the Israelites are reflecting on the fact that not all of the tribes of Israel had responded to the call to assemble before the Lord at Mizpeh. They had made a great oath declaring that whoever did not come to Mizpeh would be put to death. This episode highlights the theme of unity and loyalty among the tribes of Israel, as well as the consequences of disobedience to the commands of the Lord.
The book of Judges as a whole is a narrative that describes the period of time after Joshua's leadership, during which the Israelites were ruled by a series of judges. This was a time of moral and spiritual decline, as the people often strayed from their commitment to the Lord and engaged in idolatry and disobedience. As a result, they faced various external threats and internal conflict.
The verse Judges 21:5 takes place in the context of a particular event in the book of Judges. The Israelites had assembled at Mizpeh to address the issue of the tribe of Benjamin, which had committed a heinous crime. The other tribes had vowed not to give their daughters in marriage to the men of Benjamin, and they subsequently waged war against the tribe. After the tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out, the other tribes realized that they had gone too far, and they were concerned about the survival of the tribe. As a solution, they allowed the men of Benjamin to abduct women during a festival in order to allow them to take wives and rebuild their tribe.
The verse reflects the Israelites' commitment to uphold their oath and their determination to punish those who did not fulfill their obligation to assemble before the Lord. This underscores the importance of loyalty and adherence to their religious and social commitments. At the same time, the verse also reveals the complex moral and ethical dilemmas that the Israelites faced during this tumultuous period.
Symbolically, the verse can be seen as a reflection of the broader themes of justice, loyalty, and the consequences of disobedience in the book of Judges. It demonstrates the Israelites' commitment to upholding their religious and social obligations, as well as the severity of the consequences for those who fail to do so. The verse also reveals the complexity of human decisions and the moral ambiguity that can arise in the pursuit of justice.
In conclusion, Judges 21:5 is a significant verse within the book of Judges, highlighting the themes of loyalty, obedience, and the consequences of disobedience. It provides insight into the moral and ethical complexities that the Israelites faced during this tumultuous period and serves as a reflection of the broader narrative of the book. As with the rest of the book of Judges, this verse challenges readers to consider the implications of their actions and the importance of remaining faithful to their commitments to the Lord.
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Judges 21:5 Artwork
Judges 21:5 - "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 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 21:5
Judges 5:21 - "The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength."
Exodus 5:21 - "And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us."
Judges 5:7
"The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength." - Judges 5:21
Judges 21:20 - "Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;"
Judges 21:9 - "For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there."
Judges 10:5 - "And Jair died, and was buried in Camon."
Judges 5:5 - "The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel."
Judges 18:21 - "So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them."
Judges 21:17 - "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 9:21 - "And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother."
Judges 21:15 - "And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel."
Judges 21:25 - "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
Judges 5:1 - "Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,"
Judges 2:5 - "And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD."
Judges 21:21 - "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 7:21 - "And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled."
Judges 21:4 - "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 13:21 - "But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD."
Judges 5:20 - "They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera."
Judges 5:22 - "Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones."
Judges 21:6 - "And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day."
Judges 21:2 - "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 21:13 - "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."
Isaiah 5:21
Isaiah 5:21
"And Jair died, and was buried in Camon." - Judges 10:5
Judges 19:21 - "So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink."