NET Bible
"The remnant of Benjamin must be preserved. An entire Israelite tribe should not be wiped out."
— Judges 21:17, NET Bible
“And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.”
“And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that are escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not blotted out from Israel. ”
“They said, "There must be an inheritance for those who are escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel.”
“And we must use all care, and provide with great diligence, that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.”
“And they said, How is the rest of Benjamin to be given offspring so that one tribe of Israel may not be put out of existence,”
“And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.”
The Benjaminites returned at that time, and the Israelites gave to them the women they had spared from Jabesh Gilead. But there were not enough to go around.
The people regretted what had happened to Benjamin because the LORD had weakened the Israelite tribes.
The leaders of the assembly said,“How can we find wives for those who are left? After all, the Benjaminite women have been wiped out.
The remnant of Benjamin must be preserved. An entire Israelite tribe should not be wiped out.
But we can’t allow our daughters to marry them, for the Israelites took an oath, saying,‘Whoever gives a woman to a Benjaminite will be destroyed!’
However, there is an annual festival to the LORD in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel(east of the main road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem) and south of Lebonah.”
So they commanded the Benjaminites,“Go hide in the vineyards,