Judges 21 שׁוֹפְטִים פרק כ״א

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Judges 21 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וְאִישׁve/ISHand the men ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelנִשְׁבַּעnish/BAhad swornבַּמִּצְפָּהbam/Mits/PAat Mizpahלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingאִישׁishany manמִמֶּנּוּmim/MEN/nuof usלֹא־יִתֵּןlo-yit/TENshall not giveבִּתּוֹbit/TOhis daughterלְבִנְיָמִןle/Vin/ya/MINto Benjaminלְאִשָּׁה׃le/ish/SHAas wife

   Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

2. 2

   וַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand cameהָעָםha/AMthe peopleבֵּית־אֵלbet-Elto Beth-elוַיֵּשְׁבוּvay/yesh/VUand satשָׁםshamthereעַד־הָעֶרֶבad-ha/E/revuntil the eveningלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodוַיִּשְׂאוּvay/yis/Uand lifted upקוֹלָםko/LAMtheir voicesוַיִּבְכּוּvay/yiv/KUand weptבְּכִיbe/KHIweepingגָדוֹל׃ga/DOLgreat

   And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;

3. 3

   וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidלָמָהla/MAwhyיְהֹוָהAdonaiO LORDאֱלֹהֵיe/lo/HEGod ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelהָיְתָהha/ye/TAhas come aboutזֹּאתzotthisבְּיִשְׂרָאֵלbe/Yis/ra/ELin Israelלְהִפָּקֵדle/hip/pa/KEDthat should be lackingהַיּוֹםhay/YOMtodayמִיִּשְׂרָאֵלmiy/Yis/ra/ELfrom IsraelשֵׁבֶטSHE/vettribeאֶחָד׃e/CHADone

   And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?

4. 4

   וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passמִמׇּחֳרָתmim/mo/cho/RATon the next dayוַיַּשְׁכִּימוּvay/yash/KI/muand rose earlyהָעָםha/AMthe peopleוַיִּבְנוּ־שָׁםvay/yiv/NU-shamand built thereמִזְבֵּחַmiz/BE/achan altarוַיַּעֲלוּvay/ya/a/LUand offeredעֹלוֹתo/LOTburnt offeringsוּשְׁלָמִים׃u/she/la/MIMand peace offerings

   And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5. 5

   וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidבְּנֵיbe/NEthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelמִיmiwho is thereאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatלֹא־עָלָהlo-a/LAdid not come upבַקָּהָלvak/ka/HALwith the assemblyמִכׇּל־שִׁבְטֵיmik/KOL-shiv/TEamong all the tribes ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelאֶל־יְהֹוָהel-Adonaito the LORDכִּיkiforהַשְּׁבוּעָהhash/she/vu/Athe oathהַגְּדוֹלָהhag/ge/do/LAgreatהָיְתָהha/ye/TAhad beenלַאֲשֶׁרla/a/SHERconcerning him whoלֹא־עָלָהlo-a/LAdid not come upאֶל־יְהֹוָהel-Adonaito the LORDהַמִּצְפָּהham/Mits/PAto Mizpahלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingמוֹתmotdieיוּמָת׃yu/MAThe shall be put to death

   And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.

6. 6

   וַיִּנָּחֲמוּvay/yin/na/cha/MUand repentedבְּנֵיbe/NEthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelאֶל־בִּנְיָמִןel-Bin/ya/MINfor Benjaminאָחִיוa/CHIVhis brotherוַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidנִגְדַּעnig/DAis cut offהַיּוֹםhay/YOMtodayשֵׁבֶטSHE/vettribeאֶחָדe/CHADoneמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל׃miy/Yis/ra/ELfrom Israel

   And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.

7. 7

   מַה־נַּעֲשֶׂהma-na/a/SEwhat shall we doלָהֶםla/HEMfor themלַנּוֹתָרִיםlan/no/ta/RIMwho remainלְנָשִׁיםle/na/SHIMfor wivesוַאֲנַחְנוּva/a/NACH/nuseeing weנִשְׁבַּעְנוּnish/BA/nuhave swornבַיהֹוָהba-Adonaiby the LORDלְבִלְתִּיle/vil/TInotתֵּת־לָהֶםtet-la/HEMto give themמִבְּנוֹתֵינוּmib/be/no/TE/nuof our daughtersלְנָשִׁים׃le/na/SHIMfor wives

   How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?

8. 8

   וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidמִיmiwhatאֶחָדe/CHADone is thereמִשִּׁבְטֵיmish/shiv/TEof the tribes ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatלֹא־עָלָהlo-a/LAdid not come upאֶל־יְהֹוָהel-Adonaito the LORDהַמִּצְפָּהham/Mits/PAto Mizpahוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdלֹאlonoבָא־אִישׁva-ishman had comeאֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶהel-ham/ma/cha/NEto the campמִיָּבֵישׁmiy/Ya/VESHfrom Jabesh-גִּלְעָדgil/ADgileadאֶל־הַקָּהָל׃el-hak/ka/HALto the assembly

   And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

9. 9

   וַיִּתְפָּקֵדvay/yit/pa/KEDfor were numberedהָעָםha/AMthe peopleוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdאֵין־שָׁםen-shamthere was not thereאִישׁisha manמִיּוֹשְׁבֵיmiy/yosh/VEof the inhabitants ofיָבֵשׁYa/VESHJabesh-גִּלְעָד׃gil/ADgilead

   For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.

10. 10

    וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ־שָׁםvay/yish/le/CHU-shamand sent thereהָעֵדָהha/e/DAthe congregationשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂרshe/NEM-a/SARtwelveאֶלֶףE/lefthousandאִישׁishmenמִבְּנֵיmib/be/NEof the sons ofהֶחָיִלhe/CHA/yilvalorוַיְצַוּוּvay/tsav/VUand commandedאוֹתָםo/TAMthemלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingלְכוּle/KHUgoוְהִכִּיתֶםve/hik/ki/TEMand strikeאֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵיet-yosh/VEthe inhabitants ofיָבֵשׁYa/VESHJabesh-גִּלְעָדgil/ADgileadלְפִי־חֶרֶבle/FI-CHE/revby the edge of the swordוְהַנָּשִׁיםve/han/na/SHIMwith the womenוְהַטָּף׃ve/hat/TAFand the little ones

    And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.

11. 11

    וְזֶהve/ZEand this isהַדָּבָרhad/da/VARthe thingאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatתַּעֲשׂוּta/a/SUyou shall doכׇּל־זָכָרkol-za/KHARevery maleוְכׇל־אִשָּׁהve/KHOL-ish/SHAand every womanיֹדַעַתyo/DA/atthat has knownמִשְׁכַּב־זָכָרmish/KAV-za/KHARlying with a manתַּחֲרִימוּ׃ta/cha/RI/muyou shall utterly destroy

    And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

12. 12

    וַיִּמְצְאוּvay/yim/tse/Uand they foundמִיּוֹשְׁבֵיmiy/yosh/VEamong the inhabitants ofיָבֵישׁYa/VESHJabesh-גִּלְעָדgil/ADgileadאַרְבַּעar/BAfourמֵאוֹתme/OThundredנַעֲרָהna/a/RAyoung womenבְתוּלָהve/tu/LAvirginsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatלֹא־יָדְעָהlo-ya/de/Ahad not knownאִישׁisha manלְמִשְׁכַּבle/mish/KAVby lying withזָכָרza/KHARa maleוַיָּבִאוּvay/ya/VI/uand they broughtאוֹתָםo/TAMthemאֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶהel-ham/ma/cha/NEto the campשִׁלֹהShi/LOat Shilohאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhich isבְּאֶרֶץbe/E/retsin the land ofכְּנָעַן׃Ke/NA/anCanaan

    And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 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.

13. 13

    וַיִּשְׁלְחוּvay/yish/le/CHUand sentכׇּל־הָעֵדָהkol-ha/e/DAall the congregationוַיְדַבְּרוּvay/dab/be/RUto speakאֶל־בְּנֵיel-be/NEto the children ofבִנְיָמִןVin/ya/MINBenjaminאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwho wereבְּסֶלַעbe/SE/lain the rock ofרִמּוֹןRim/MONRimmonוַיִּקְרְאוּvay/yik/re/Uand to proclaimלָהֶםla/HEMto themשָׁלוֹם׃sha/LOMpeace

    And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.

14. 14

    וַיָּשׇׁבvay/YA/shovand came againבִּנְיָמִןBin/ya/MINBenjaminבָּעֵתba/ETat the timeהַהִיאha/HIthatוַיִּתְּנוּvay/yit/te/NUand they gaveלָהֶםla/HEMthemהַנָּשִׁיםhan/na/SHIMthe womenאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhomחִיּוּchiy/YUthey had saved aliveמִנְּשֵׁיmin/ne/SHEof the women ofיָבֵשׁYa/VESHJabesh-גִּלְעָדgil/ADgileadוְלֹא־מָצְאוּve/LO-ma/tse/Uand yet they did not findלָהֶםla/HEMfor themכֵּן׃kenenough

    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.

15. 15

    וְהָעָםve/ha/AMand the peopleנִחָםni/CHAMrepentedלְבִנְיָמִןle/Vin/ya/MINfor Benjaminכִּי־עָשָׂהki-a/SAbecause had madeיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDפֶּרֶץPE/retsa breachבְּשִׁבְטֵיbe/shiv/TEin the tribes ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yis/ra/ELIsrael

    And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

16. 16

    וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidזִקְנֵיzik/NEthe elders ofהָעֵדָהha/e/DAthe congregationמַה־נַּעֲשֶׂהma-na/a/SEwhat shall we doלַנּוֹתָרִיםlan/no/ta/RIMfor those who remainלְנָשִׁיםle/na/SHIMfor wivesכִּי־נִשְׁמְדָהki-nish/me/DAsince are destroyedמִבִּנְיָמִןmib/Bin/ya/MINout of Benjaminאִשָּׁה׃ish/SHAthe women

    Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

17. 17

    וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidיְרֻשַּׁתye/rush/SHATthe possession ofפְּלֵיטָהpe/le/TAa remnantלְבִנְיָמִןle/Vin/ya/MINfor Benjaminוְלֹא־יִמָּחֶהve/LO-yim/ma/CHEthat not be blotted outשֵׁבֶטSHE/veta tribeמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל׃miy/Yis/ra/ELfrom Israel

    And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.

18. 18

    וַאֲנַחְנוּva/a/NACH/nuyet weלֹאlonotנוּכַלnu/KHALcanלָתֵת־לָהֶםla/TET-la/HEMgive themנָשִׁיםna/SHIMwivesמִבְּנוֹתֵינוּmib/be/no/TE/nuof our daughtersכִּי־נִשְׁבְּעוּki-nish/be/Ufor have swornבְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵלve/NE-yis/ra/ELthe children of Israelלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingאָרוּרa/RURcursed beנֹתֵןno/TENhe who givesאִשָּׁהish/SHAa wifeלְבִנְיָמִן׃le/Vin/ya/MINto Benjamin

    Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.

19. 19

    וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdחַג־יְהֹוָהchag-Adonaithe feast of the LORDבְּשִׁלוֹbe/Shi/LOin Shilohמִיָּמִיםmiy/ya/MIMfrom yearיָמִימָהya/MI/mato yearאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhich isמִצְּפוֹנָהmits/tse/FO/naon the north sideלְבֵית־אֵלle/VET-elof Beth-elמִזְרְחָהmiz/re/CHAtoward the rising ofהַשֶּׁמֶשׁhash/SHE/meshthe sunלִמְסִלָּהlim/sil/LAof the highwayהָעֹלָהha/o/LAthat goes upמִבֵּית־אֵלmib/BET-elfrom Beth-elשְׁכֶמָהShe/KHE/mato Shechemוּמִנֶּגֶבu/min/NE/gevand on the southלִלְבוֹנָה׃Lil/vo/NAof Lebonah

    Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.

20. 20

    (ויצו)vayatsav[וַיְצַוּוּ]vay/tsav/VUtherefore they commandedאֶת־בְּנֵיet-be/NEthe children ofבִנְיָמִןVin/ya/MINBenjaminלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingלְכוּle/KHUgoוַאֲרַבְתֶּםva/a/rav/TEMand lie in waitבַּכְּרָמִים׃bak/ke/ra/MIMin the vineyards

    Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;

21. 21

    וּרְאִיתֶםu/re/i/TEMand seeוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdאִם־יֵצְאוּim-yets/Uif come outבְנוֹת־שִׁילוֹve/NOT-shi/LOthe daughters of Shilohלָחוּלla/CHULto danceבַּמְּחֹלוֹתbam/me/cho/LOTin dancesוִיצָאתֶםvi/tsa/TEMthen come outמִן־הַכְּרָמִיםmin-hak/ke/ra/MIMfrom the vineyardsוַחֲטַפְתֶּםva/cha/taf/TEMand catchלָכֶםla/KHEMfor yourselvesאִישׁishevery manאִשְׁתּוֹish/TOhis wifeמִבְּנוֹתmib/be/NOTof the daughters ofשִׁילוֹShi/LOShilohוַהֲלַכְתֶּםva/ha/lakh/TEMand goאֶרֶץE/retsto the land ofבִּנְיָמִן׃Bin/ya/MINBenjamin

    And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in 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.

22. 22

    וְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall beכִּי־יָבֹאוּki-ya/VO/uwhen comeאֲבוֹתָםa/vo/TAMtheir fathersאוֹoorאֲחֵיהֶםa/che/HEMtheir brothers(לרוב)laravav[לָרִיב]la/RIVto complainאֵלֵינוּe/LE/nuto usוְאָמַרְנוּve/a/MAR/nuthat we will sayאֲלֵיהֶםa/le/HEMto themחׇנּוּנוּchon/NU/nugrant us graciouslyאוֹתָםo/TAMthemכִּיkiforלֹאlonotלָקַחְנוּla/KACH/nuwe tookאִישׁisheach manאִשְׁתּוֹish/TOhis wifeבַּמִּלְחָמָהbam/mil/cha/MAin the warכִּיkiforלֹאlonotאַתֶּםat/TEMyouנְתַתֶּםne/tat/TEMgaveלָהֶםla/HEMthemכָּעֵתka/ETat this timeתֶּאְשָׁמוּ׃te/SHA/muthat you should be guilty

    And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.

23. 23

    וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵןvay/ya/a/SU-khenand did soבְּנֵיbe/NEthe children ofבִנְיָמִןVin/ya/MINBenjaminוַיִּשְׂאוּvay/yis/Uand tookנָשִׁיםna/SHIMwivesלְמִסְפָּרָםle/mis/pa/RAMaccording to their numberמִן־הַמְּחֹלְלוֹתmin-ham/me/chol/LOTfrom the dancersאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhomגָּזָלוּga/ZA/luthey caughtוַיֵּלְכוּvay/yel/KHUand wentוַיָּשׁוּבוּvay/ya/SHU/vuand returnedאֶל־נַחֲלָתָםel-na/cha/la/TAMto their inheritanceוַיִּבְנוּvay/yiv/NUand rebuiltאֶת־הֶעָרִיםet-he/a/RIMthe citiesוַיֵּשְׁבוּvay/yesh/VUand dweltבָּהֶם׃ba/HEMin them

    And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.

24. 24

    וַיִּתְהַלְּכוּvay/yit/hal/le/KHUand departedמִשָּׁםmish/SHAMfrom thereבְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵלbe/NE-yis/ra/ELthe children of Israelבָּעֵתba/ETat the timeהַהִיאha/HIthatאִישׁishevery manלְשִׁבְטוֹle/shiv/TOto his tribeוּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹu/le/mish/pach/TOand to his clanוַיֵּצְאוּvay/yets/Uand they went outמִשָּׁםmish/SHAMfrom thereאִישׁishevery manלְנַחֲלָתוֹ׃le/na/cha/la/TOto his inheritance

    And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.

25. 25

    בַּיָּמִיםbay/ya/MIMin the daysהָהֵםha/HEMthoseאֵיןenthere was noמֶלֶךְME/lekhkingבְּיִשְׂרָאֵלbe/Yis/ra/ELin Israelאִישׁishevery manהַיָּשָׁרhay/ya/SHARwhat was rightבְּעֵינָיוbe/e/NAYVin his eyesיַעֲשֶׂה׃ya/a/SEdid

    In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.