Judges 21:20 asv — And they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,

American Standard Version

"And they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards, "

— Judges 21:20, American Standard Version

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Judges 21:20 in Other Translations

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Judges 21 — Context

17

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

18

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.

19

And 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.

20

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

21

and 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.

22

And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come to complain unto us, that we will say unto them, Grant them graciously unto us, because we took not for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did ye give them unto them, else would ye now be guilty.

23

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

Judges 21:20 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Judges 21:20 say?
Judges 21:20 in the American Standard Version reads: “And they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards, ”
Where is Judges 21:20 in the Bible?
Judges 21:20 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Judges, chapter 21, verse 20.
Who wrote Judges?
Judges is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel). It was written c. 1050–1000 BC.
What is the book of Judges about?
Judges chronicles the cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance that defined Israel between Joshua and Samuel. Through twelve raised-up deliverers — including Deborah, Gideon, and Samson — God repeatedly rescues a people who keep doing what is right in their own eyes.
What are the major themes of Judges?
Judges explores themes including Apostasy, Deliverance, Cycles of Sin, Need for a King, Mercy. These themes shape the meaning and context of Judges 21:20.
What translation should I read Judges 21:20 in?
Judges 21:20 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Judges 21:20?
Judges 21:20 reads (ASV): “And they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards, ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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