And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
The people of Israel felt deep regret about what had happened to Benjamin, their brother tribe, and said, 'One of our tribes has been cut off from Israel today.'
The writer is showing how the Israelites realized they had gone too far in punishing the tribe of Benjamin and were now grieving that they had nearly destroyed one of their own tribes.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Judges, the Israelites were in a period of moral decline and frequent tribal conflicts, with the story here occurring after a brutal civil war. The tribe of Benjamin had committed a grave sin by protecting men who perpetrated a horrific crime, leading the other tribes to unite against them in battle. After nearly wiping out Benjamin, the Israelites expressed regret, realizing that their actions threatened the integrity of the twelve tribes of Israel.
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