Outline of the chapter:
- Israel feels the loss of the tribe of Benjamin, and prays for wisdom (1-4)
- Six hundred Benjaminites remained alive; and the other tribes wanted to rebuild Benjamin without violating their pre-battle oaths (5-7)
- Upon discovering that Jabesh-Gilead had not joined in the battle, 12,000 soldiers were dispatched to destroy the city; and they returned with 400 virgins to be given for wives to the surviving Benjaminites (8-15).
- Still short 200 brides, the Benjaminites were encouraged to kidnap (?) virgins of Shiloh who attended the annual feast to the Lord (16-24)
- Thus was the tribe of Benjamin allowed to survive-what other explanation can there be for such strange events except that there was no king in Israel, every man did that which was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25)?
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