Judges 21:1-4

Judges 21:1-4

[1] Now the men  of Israel  had sworn  in Mizpeh,  saying,  There shall not any  of us give  his daughter  unto Benjamin  to wife.  [2] And the people  came  of God,  and abode  there till even  before  God,  and lifted up  their voices,  and wept  sore;  [3] And said,  O LORD  God  of Israel,  that there should be to day  one  tribe  lacking  in Israel?  [4] 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. 

What does Judges 21:1-4 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The "wife oath" that the Israelites had taken at Mizpah ( Judges 20:8-11) may have had some connection with God"s commands concerning Israel"s treatment of the Canaanites ( Deuteronomy 7:1-3). Israel was to destroy these enemies utterly and not intermarry with them. However, this was how Israel was to deal with Canaanites, not her own brethren. Obviously the remaining Benjamites needed wives and children to perpetuate the tribe.
"That they justify their attempt at compassion with reference to solemn oaths (see Judges 21:1; Judges 21:5) is not much of a defense, given the poor history of oaths in the book of Judges (see Judges 11:29-40)." [1]
The civil war had left only600 Benjamite warriors alive ( Judges 20:47). The population of this endangered tribe was so small now that it could easily have become extinct. Returning to Bethel and the ark, the victorious Israelites reflected on the situation they had created ( Judges 21:2). The thrill of victory turned to the agony of defeat as they realized the consequences of their actions. The dilemma that their "wife oath" ( Judges 21:1) and their sorrow ( Judges 21:2) posed is the subject of this chapter. How could they resolve these two things?
The Israelites" initial reaction was to ask God to explain the situation ( Judges 21:3). The reason for it was their failure to seek and follow God"s will earlier (cf. Judges 20:8-11). Here we see no mourning for sin, no self-humbling because of national transgression, and no return to the Lord. The Lord did not respond to them because they acted in self-will ( Judges 21:10).
Then the Israelites sought the Lord more seriously ( Judges 21:4). It seems strange that they built an altar at Bethel since they had recently offered sacrifices on the one before the tabernacle there ( Judges 20:26). Perhaps they rebuilt or enlarged the altar at Bethel, or they may have built another one.