Judges 21:16
Then the elders of the congregation said, "What should we do about wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?"
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Judges 21:16?

2. How can we address societal issues like the Israelites in Judges 21:16 faced?

3. What does Judges 21:16 teach about community responsibility and restoration?

4. How does Judges 21:16 connect to God's covenant with Israel?

5. How can we apply the lessons from Judges 21:16 in modern church communities?

6. What role does leadership play in resolving crises, as seen in Judges 21:16?

7. How does Judges 21:16 reflect on God's view of justice and mercy?

8. What historical context led to the events in Judges 21:16?

9. How does Judges 21:16 align with the overall message of the Book of Judges?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 21?

11. Who were the elders in the Old Testament?

12. In Judges 1:8 versus 1:21, why does it say Judah captured Jerusalem but Benjamin couldn't drive out the Jebusites, leading to conflicting accounts about Jerusalem's conquest?

13. Why does the text promote the abduction of women as a solution for the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 21:20-23)?

14. Why does Paul say women should not have authority over men (1 Timothy 2:12)?
Discussion Questions
1. What lessons can we learn from the elders' approach to solving the crisis faced by the tribe of Benjamin?

2. How does the account of the tribe of Benjamin illustrate the consequences of sin and the need for repentance and reconciliation?

3. In what ways does God's provision for the tribe of Benjamin reflect His mercy and faithfulness to His people?

4. How can we apply the principles of community responsibility and leadership in our own church or community settings?

5. What other biblical accounts of hope and restoration can we draw parallels to in our own lives, and how do they encourage us in times of crisis?1. How does Judges 21 challenge our understanding of morality within the context of historical cultural norms?

2. What lessons can we learn about the consequences of hasty vows from the Israelites' predicament in this chapter?

3. How does the Israelites' reaction to the near extinction of the Tribe of Benjamin reflect on the value they placed on unity among the Twelve Tribes of Israel?

4. How does the ending statement of Judges 21, "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit", reflect on the moral and societal challenges depicted in the book of Judges?

5. How would you have handled the dilemma faced by the Israelites after the war, given the cultural context and available options?

6. How can the actions taken by the Israelites in Judges 21 inform our understanding of decision making in desperate situations?

7. What are some of the modern-day dilemmas that might compare to the one faced by the Israelites in Judges 21, and how might they be handled differently today?

8. How does the situation in Judges 21 reflect the consequences of inter-tribal strife or in broader terms, inter-group conflicts?

9. What implications can be drawn from the Israelites' decisions for the Tribe of Benjamin in terms of conflict resolution and reconciliation?

10. How can the story in Judges 21 guide our understanding of collective responsibility?

11. If you were a leader in Israel at the time, what alternative solutions might you have proposed, and why?

12. How can Judges 21 help us navigate the complexities of upholding cultural traditions versus responding to changing circumstances?

13. In what ways can the book of Judges, particularly chapter 21, inform modern discussions on war, its aftermath, and restoration?

14. If you were part of the Tribe of Benjamin, how would you feel about the decisions made by the rest of Israel? What actions would you take?

15. How do the actions of the Israelites in this chapter inform our understanding of survival, preservation, and the lengths humans will go to ensure these?

16. If you were among the young women of Shiloh, how would you interpret the actions of the Israelites, and how would you respond?

17. How does the moral ambiguity in Judges 21 challenge our notions of 'right' and 'wrong' in the modern world?

18. How might the drastic solutions presented in Judges 21 inform our understanding of the potential consequences of conflict?

19. Given the same scenario today, how would international law address the situation?

20. How can the experiences of the Israelites in Judges 21 guide our approach to solving problems in our own communities today?

Links
Judges 21:16 NIV
Judges 21:16 NLT
Judges 21:16 ESV
Judges 21:16 NASB
Judges 21:16 KJV

Judges 21:16 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Judges 21:15
Top of Page
Top of Page