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.
However, we cannot give them wives from our daughters, because the people of Israel have made a solemn promise, saying, 'Anyone who gives a wife to a man from Benjamin will be cursed.'
The writer is explaining that the Israelites had sworn an oath that prevented them from giving their daughters in marriage to the surviving men of the tribe of Benjamin.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes at the end of a devastating civil war where the other eleven tribes of Israel nearly wiped out the tribe of Benjamin after a horrific crime occurred in the town of Gibeah. In their anger, the tribes had sworn oaths not to intermarry with Benjamin, but now they realized this would cause Benjamin to disappear entirely from Israel. They were struggling with how to help Benjamin survive as a tribe while keeping their sacred vows.
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