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Judges 21:18

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 21:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
Judges 21:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that Jehovah had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
16Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
17And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that are escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not blotted out from Israel.
18Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
19And they said, Behold, there is a feast of Jehovah from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
20And they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,
21and see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
← Judges 21:17Judges 21:19 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Howbeit, we may not give them wives of our daughters, etc.] Though their case was so very necessitous and desperate: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin, (<072101>Judges 21:1) and therefore without the violation of their oath could not give any of their daughters in marriage to them: wherefore some other way must be devised to help them.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For the children of Israel have sworn - See Judges 21:1. Compare Saul’s rash oath 1 Samuel 14:24, and his breach of the oath made to the Gideonites 2 Samuel 21:2. For the guilt of a broken oath, see Ezekiel 17:15-20; Exodus 20:7. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“sworn: Jdg 21:1, Jdg 11:35 Judges 21:19”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification