Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So the Benjamites returned at that time and were given the women of Jabesh Gilead who had been spared. But there were not enough for all of them. New Living Translation Then the men of Benjamin returned to their homes, and the 400 women of Jabesh-gilead who had been spared were given to them as wives. But there were not enough women for all of them. English Standard Version And Benjamin returned at that time. And they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead, but they were not enough for them. Berean Standard Bible And at that time the Benjamites returned and were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough women for all of them. Berean Literal Bible And Benjamin came back at that time, and they gave to them the women whom they had saved alive of the women from Jabesh-gilead, and they had found not for them enough. King James Bible 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. New King James Version So Benjamin came back at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh Gilead; and yet they had not found enough for them. New American Standard Bible And the tribe of Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had allowed to live from the women of Jabesh-gilead; but they were not enough for them. NASB 1995 Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the women of Jabesh-gilead; yet they were not enough for them. NASB 1977 And Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the women of Jabesh-gilead; yet they were not enough for them. Legacy Standard Bible Then Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the women of Jabesh-gilead; yet they did not find enough for them. Amplified Bible So [the survivors of] Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the women of Jabesh-gilead; but there were not enough [to provide wives] for them. Berean Annotated Bible And at that time the Benjamites (son of the right hand) returned and were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead (dry) (rocky region). But there were not enough women for all of them. Christian Standard Bible Benjamin returned at that time, and Israel gave them the women they had kept alive from Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough for them. Holman Christian Standard Bible Benjamin returned at that time, and Israel gave them the women they had kept alive from Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough for them. American Standard Version And Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not. Contemporary English Version So the men of Benjamin came back from Rimmon Rock, and the Israelites let them marry the young women from Jabesh. But there weren't enough women. English Revised Version And Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not. GOD'S WORD® Translation So the men of Benjamin came back at that time. These men were given the women from Jabesh Gilead who had been kept alive. However, the congregation had not found enough women for all of them. Good News Translation The Benjaminites came back, and the other Israelites gave them the young women from Jabesh whom they had not killed. But there were not enough of them. International Standard Version So the survivors of the tribe of Benjamin returned at that time, and the Israelis gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the raid on Jabesh-gilead. Even so, there weren't enough for them. NET Bible The Benjaminites returned at that time, and the Israelites gave to them the women they had spared from Jabesh Gilead. But there were not enough to go around. New Heart English Bible Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh Gilead: and yet so they weren't enough for them. Webster's Bible Translation And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd at that time the Benjamites returned and were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough women for all of them. World English Bible Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh Gilead. There still weren’t enough for them. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Benjamin turns back at that time, and they give to them the women whom they have kept alive of the women of Jabesh-Gilead, and they have not found for [all of] them so. Berean Literal Bible And Benjamin came back at that time, and they gave to them the women whom they had saved alive of the women from Jabesh-gilead, and they had found not for them enough. Young's Literal Translation and Benjamin turneth back at that time, and they give to them the women whom they have kept alive of the women of Jabesh-Gilead, and they have not found for all of them so. Smith's Literal Translation And Benjamin will turn back in that time; and they will give them the women which they saved alive from the women of Jabesh-Gilead: and they found for them not thus. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the children of Benjamin came at that time, and wives were given them of the daughters of Jabes Galaad: but they found no others, whom they might give in like manner. Catholic Public Domain Version And the sons of Benjamin went, at that time, and wives were given to them from the daughters of Jabesh-Gilead. But others were not found, whom they might give in a similar manner. New American Bible So Benjamin returned at that time, and they were given as wives the women of Jabesh-gilead who had been spared; but these proved to be not enough for them. New Revised Standard Version Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead; but they did not suffice for them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Benjamin came back at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead; but there were not enough for them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Benjamin came at that time, and they gave to them the women whom they saved from the women of Yabish of Gelad, and it was not enough for them OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead; and yet so they sufficed them not. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Benjamin returned to the children of Israel at that time, and the children of Israel gave them the women whom they had save alive of the daughters of Jabis Galaad; and they were content. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Wives for the Benjamites…13Then the whole congregation sent a message of peace to the Benjamites who were at the rock of Rimmon. 14And at that time the Benjamites returned and were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead. But there were not enough women for all of them. 15The people grieved for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a void in the tribes of Israel.… Cross References And at that time the Benjamites returned Judges 20:47-48 But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. / And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path. Judges 20:14-17 And from their cities they came together at Gibeah to go out and fight against the Israelites. / On that day the Benjamites mobilized 26,000 swordsmen from their cities, in addition to the 700 select men of Gibeah. / Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing. … and were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead. 1 Samuel 11:1-11 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” / But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.” / “Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.” … Numbers 31:17-18 So now, kill all the boys, as well as every woman who has had relations with a man, / but spare for yourselves every girl who has never had relations with a man. Deuteronomy 21:10-14 When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive, / if you see a beautiful woman among them, and you desire her and want to take her as your wife, / then you shall bring her into your house. She must shave her head, trim her nails, … But there were not enough women for all of them. Isaiah 4:1 In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own bread and provide our own clothes. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!” Jeremiah 31:22 How long will you wander, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land—a woman will shelter a man.” Deuteronomy 25:5-6 When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. / The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. Judges 20:48 And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path. Judges 11:1-2 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor; he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father. / And Gilead’s wife bore him sons who grew up, drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.” Judges 19:1-2 Now in those days, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite who lived in the remote hill country of Ephraim took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. / But she was unfaithful to him and left him to return to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah. After she had been there four months, Judges 20:1-2 Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah. / The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords. Judges 20:12-13 And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you? / Hand over the wicked men of Gibeah so we can put them to death and purge Israel of this evil.” But the Benjamites refused to heed the voice of their fellow Israelites. Judges 20:18 The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied. Judges 20:23 They went up and wept before the LORD until evening, inquiring of Him, “Should we again draw near for battle against our brothers the Benjamites?” And the LORD answered, “Go up against them.” Judges 20:26-28 Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. / And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, / and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.” Treasury of Scripture 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. suffice them not Judges 21:12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. Judges 20:47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. 1 Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Jump to Previous Alive Benjamin Death Enough Jabesh Jabeshgilead Jabesh-Gilead Ja'besh-Gil'ead Kept Saved Spared Suffice Sufficed Time Turneth Weren't Wives WomenJump to Next Alive Benjamin Death Enough Jabesh Jabeshgilead Jabesh-Gilead Ja'besh-Gil'ead Kept Saved Spared Suffice Sufficed Time Turneth Weren't Wives WomenJudges 21 1. The people bewail the desolation of Benjamin8. By the destruction of Jabesh Gilead they provide them four hundred wives. 16. They advise the remainder to surprise the virgins that danced at Shiloh And at that time the Benjamites returned The Benjamites had been nearly annihilated due to a civil war with the other Israelite tribes, as recounted in Judges 20. This return marks a pivotal moment of reconciliation and restoration for the tribe. The timing is significant, as it follows a period of mourning and repentance by the Israelites, who realized the near extinction of one of their tribes. This reflects the cyclical nature of sin and redemption seen throughout the Book of Judges. and were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead But there were not enough women for all of them Persons / Places / Events 1. BenjamitesThe tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, which faced near extinction due to a civil war with the other Israelite tribes. 2. Jabesh-gilead A city in Gilead, east of the Jordan River, whose inhabitants did not join the assembly at Mizpah and were consequently attacked by the Israelites. 3. Civil War A conflict between the tribe of Benjamin and the other Israelite tribes, sparked by a grievous crime committed in Gibeah, a city of Benjamin. 4. Assembly at Mizpah A gathering of the Israelite tribes to address the crime in Gibeah, leading to the decision to go to war against Benjamin. 5. Women of Jabesh-gilead The women spared from the destruction of Jabesh-gilead, given to the Benjamites to provide wives for the surviving men. Teaching Points The Consequences of SinThe events in Judges 21 highlight the destructive consequences of sin and the breakdown of societal order when God's laws are ignored. Human Solutions to Spiritual Problems The Israelites' attempt to solve the problem of the Benjamites' survival through human means, rather than seeking God's guidance, serves as a cautionary tale. The Importance of Obedience The failure of Jabesh-gilead to join the assembly at Mizpah resulted in severe consequences, underscoring the importance of obedience to communal and divine directives. God's Mercy Amidst Judgment Despite the chaos and judgment, there is a thread of mercy as the tribe of Benjamin is preserved, reflecting God's overarching plan and mercy. Community Responsibility The account illustrates the responsibility of the community to address sin and injustice, but also the need for wisdom and reliance on God in doing so. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 21:14?2. How does Judges 21:14 demonstrate God's provision for the tribe of Benjamin? 3. What lessons on reconciliation can we learn from Judges 21:14? 4. How does Judges 21:14 connect to God's covenant promises in the Old Testament? 5. How can we apply the resolution in Judges 21:14 to conflicts today? 6. What does Judges 21:14 teach about community restoration after conflict? 7. Why did the Israelites give wives to the Benjamites in Judges 21:14? 8. How does Judges 21:14 reflect on God's justice and mercy? 9. What historical context led to the events in Judges 21:14? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 21? 11. How can a story that endorses forced marriage be harmonized with other biblical teachings on love and compassion (Judges 21)? 12. If the land division was divinely ordained, why do other biblical accounts (e.g., Judges 1) describe tribes failing to fully possess these assigned territories? 13. What archaeological evidence, if any, supports the slaughter of Jabesh-gilead described in this chapter (Judges 21:8-12)? 14. Does the emphasis on male leadership in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 conflict with teachings in other parts of the Bible that highlight women in ministry roles? What Does Judges 21:14 Mean At that time- The phrase anchors us in the immediate aftermath of Israel’s civil war against Benjamin (Judges 20:46–48; 21:1–3). - The nation has gathered at Shiloh, grieving both the moral collapse that led to war and the devastating loss of life. - This timing signals urgency: Israel must act quickly to keep one of the twelve tribes from disappearing (Genesis 49:27; Judges 21:3). The Benjamites returned - About 600 surviving Benjamite men had been hiding at the rock of Rimmon for four months (Judges 20:47). - “Returned” shows reconciliation in motion. Israel sends a peace delegation (Judges 21:13), inviting the fugitives back to their inheritance (Joshua 18:21). - The move illustrates God’s desire for restoration even after severe judgment (Isaiah 1:18; Hosea 6:1). Were given the women who were spared from Jabesh-gilead - Israel had taken a vow not to give their own daughters to Benjamin (Judges 21:1; Numbers 30:2). - Discovering that Jabesh-gilead failed to join the national assembly (Judges 21:8–9), the Israelites struck the town, sparing 400 virgin women (Judges 21:10–12). - These women are now presented to Benjamin as a legal “non-Israelite-daughter” solution to keep the vow intact, though the morality of the tactic is highly flawed (Judges 17:6; 21:25). - Jabesh-gilead later shows unusual loyalty to Saul, the first Benjamite king (1 Samuel 11:1–11; 31:11–13), hinting at long-term ties forged here. But there were not enough women for all of them - Four hundred brides cannot cover six hundred grooms; 200 men remain without wives (Judges 21:14–16). - The shortfall exposes how human schemes fall short when vows and violence replace prayerful obedience (Deuteronomy 23:21–23; Ecclesiastes 5:4–6). - It sets up the next episode: the Shiloh festival plan, where remaining Benjamites seize dancing maidens (Judges 21:19–23), further revealing Israel’s moral confusion. - The verse underlines a key theme in Judges: when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25), even well-meant fixes multiply hardship. summary Judges 21:14 records a partial, imperfect repair of the tribe of Benjamin: the surviving men rejoin Israel and receive 400 rescued women from Jabesh-gilead, yet 200 remain unprovided for. The verse highlights Israel’s attempt to honor a binding vow while preserving a brother tribe, showing both the cost of sin and the inadequacy of human-devised solutions apart from full submission to the Lord’s ways. (14) Came again--i.e., returned to their desolate towns.Yet so they sufficed them not.--There would still be 200 Benjamites left without wives. Verse 14. - Benjamin came again, i.e. returned to their own homes in the tribe of Benjamin, as in ver. 23. Yet so they sufficed them net - or, Yet so they (the Israelites) did not provide enough for them (the Benjamites); or, Yet so they (the Benjamites) had not enough for themselves.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And at thatהַהִ֔יא (ha·hî) Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are time בָּעֵ֣ת (bā·‘êṯ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 6256: Time, now, when the Benjamites בִּנְיָמִן֙ (bin·yā·min) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1144: Benjamin -- 'son of the right hand', youngest son of Jacob, also the name of two other Israelites returned וַיָּ֤שָׁב (way·yā·šāḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again and were given וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ (way·yit·tə·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5414: To give, put, set the women הַנָּשִׁ֔ים (han·nā·šîm) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female who were spared חִיּ֔וּ (ḥî·yū) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 2421: To live, to revive from Jabesh-gilead. יָבֵ֣שׁ (yā·ḇêš) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3003: Jabesh -- a place in Gilead, also an Israelite But there were not וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no enough [women] כֵּֽן׃ (kên) Adverb Strong's 3651: So -- thus for all of them. לָהֶ֖ם (lā·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew Links Judges 21:14 NIVJudges 21:14 NLT Judges 21:14 ESV Judges 21:14 NASB Judges 21:14 KJV Judges 21:14 BibleApps.com Judges 21:14 Biblia Paralela Judges 21:14 Chinese Bible Judges 21:14 French Bible Judges 21:14 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 21:14 Benjamin returned at that time (Jd Judg. 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