Judges 21:14
Arabic Bible ERV 2009
وَفِي ذَلِكَ اليَومِ، عادَ بَنُو بَنْيامِيْنَ، فَأعطُوهُمُ النِّساءَ النّاجِياتِ مِنْ نِساءِ يابِيشَ جِلْعادَ. لَكِنَّ عَدَدَ النِّساءِ لَمْ يَكُنْ كافِياً لَهُمْ.
What Does This Mean?
This verse describes how the men of Benjamin, a tribe of Israel, were given wives from the women of Jabeshgilead who were spared from a previous battle. However, even these women were not enough to provide wives for all the men of Benjamin.
Explained for Children
Imagine if a group of boys needed more friends to play with, and they found some girls to be their friends. But there weren't enough girls for all the boys, so some boys still didn't have a friend to play with. That's kind of what happened here with the men of Benjamin.
Historical Background
The book of Judges was written by various authors and compiled by Samuel or another prophet around 900 BC. The audience was the Israelites who needed to understand the consequences of their actions and the importance of following God's laws. This verse describes a difficult period after a civil war.
Living It Out Today
In modern times, this verse reminds us of the importance of community support and the consequences of conflict. For example, a community facing a gender imbalance due to war might struggle with similar issues in marriage and family formation.
Topics
communityconsequencesmarriageconflictjusticesurvival
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the men of Benjamin need wives from Jabeshgilead?
The men of Benjamin needed wives because of a civil war where many of their women were killed, leaving a shortage of marriageable women within their tribe.
What was the outcome of giving the women of Jabeshgilead to the men of Benjamin?
While it provided some wives for the men of Benjamin, the women from Jabeshgilead were not enough to satisfy the need, indicating the severity of the loss during the civil war.
How does this verse reflect the broader theme of Judges?
This verse reflects the theme of the consequences of disobedience and conflict, showing how the Israelites' actions led to severe repercussions, including the scarcity of women for marriage.
What can we learn about community and justice from this verse?
We can learn that community support and justice are crucial, even in difficult circumstances. The verse also highlights the importance of considering the long-term impacts of our actions on others.