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Judges 21:14

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

So the men of Benjamin returned at that time, and the Israelites gave them the women from Jabesh-gilead whom they had kept alive as wives. But there still weren't enough women for all the Benjamin men.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The writer is describing how the surviving men of Benjamin were given wives from Jabesh-gilead, but there still weren't enough women to go around.

📚 Historical Context

In the Book of Judges, the Israelites had engaged in a civil war against the tribe of Benjamin due to their refusal to hand over men guilty of a grave atrocity in Gibeah, which nearly led to Benjamin's extinction. To preserve the tribe, the Israelites provided Benjamite survivors with wives from the women of Jabesh-gilead, who had not joined the conflict and were spared from a previous attack. However, this solution fell short, as there were not enough women to fully meet the need, illustrating the ongoing repercussions of war and impulsive oaths.

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