Judges 21:8-15

New International Version

⁸Then they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to assemble before the Lord at Mizpah?” They discovered that no one from Jabesh Gilead^(A) had come to the camp for the assembly. ⁹For when they counted the people, they found that none of the people of Jabesh Gilead were there.

¹⁰So the assembly sent twelve thousand fighting men with instructions to go to Jabesh Gilead and put to the sword those living there, including the women and children. ¹¹“This is what you are to do,” they said. “Kill every male^(B) and every woman who is not a virgin.^(C)” ¹²They found among the people living in Jabesh Gilead four hundred young women who had never slept with a man, and they took them to the camp at Shiloh^(D) in Canaan.

¹³Then the whole assembly sent an offer of peace^(E) to the Benjamites at the rock of Rimmon.^(F) ¹⁴So 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.

¹⁵The people grieved for Benjamin,^(G) because the Lord had made a gap in the tribes of Israel.

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Judges 21:8-15

New King James Version

⁸And they said, “What one is there from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to Mizpah to the Lord?” And, in fact, no one had come to the camp from ^(A)Jabesh Gilead to the assembly. ⁹For when the people were counted, indeed, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead was there. ¹⁰So the congregation sent out there twelve thousand of their most valiant men, and commanded them, saying, ^(B)“Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, including the women and children. ¹¹And this is the thing that you shall do: ^(C)You shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who has known a man intimately.” ¹²So they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man intimately; and they brought them to the camp at ^(D)Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

¹³Then the whole congregation sent word to the children of Benjamin ^(E)who were at the rock of Rimmon, and announced peace to them. ¹⁴So 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.

¹⁵And the people ^(F)grieved for Benjamin, because the Lord had made a void in the tribes of Israel.

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Judges 21:8-15

English Standard Version

⁸And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from ^(A)Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly. ⁹For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of ^(B)Jabesh-gilead was there. ¹⁰So the congregation sent 12,000 of their bravest men there and commanded them, ^(C)“Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword; also the women and the little ones. ¹¹This is what you shall do: ^(D)every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction.” ¹²And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they brought them to the camp at ^(E)Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

¹³Then the whole congregation sent word to the people of Benjamin who were at the ^(F)rock of Rimmon and ^(G)proclaimed peace to them. ¹⁴And 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. ¹⁵And the people ^(H)had compassion on Benjamin because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.