Judges 21:3

Verse

“Why, O LORD God of Israel,” they cried out, “has this happened in Israel? Today in Israel one tribe is missing!”

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Bible in Basic English

And they said, O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this fate come on Israel, that today one tribe has been cut off from Israel?

Free Bible Version

“Lord, God of Israel, why has this happened to Israel?” they asked. “Today one of our tribes is missing from Israel.”

Geneva Bible 1599

And sayde, O Lord God of Israel, why is this come to passe in Israel, that this day one tribe of Israel should want?

King James (Authorized) Version

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?

Translation for Translators

They kept saying, “Yahweh, God of us Israeli people, it is as though one of the tribes of us Israelis does not exist any more! ◄Why has this happened to us?/It is terrible that this has happened to us!►” [RHQ]

Unlocked Literal Bible

They called out, “Why, Yahweh, God of Israel, has this happened to Israel, that one of our tribes should be missing today?”

Noah Webster Bible

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?

World English Bible

They said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that there should be one tribe lacking in Israel today?”

Young's Literal Translation

and say, 'Why, O Jehovah, God of Israel, hath this been in Israel — to be lacking to-day, from Israel, one tribe?'

Context

Wives for the Benjamites

²So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, lifting up their voices and weeping bitterly.³“Why, O LORD God of Israel,” they cried out, “has this happened in Israel? Today in Israel one tribe is missing!”

Sermons

What Happened?

K.P. Yohannan

Summary

In this verse, the Israelites are expressing deep sorrow and regret over the near-extinction of the tribe of Benjamin due to a civil war. They are grieving the consequences of their actions and seeking a solution to prevent the complete loss of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This verse reflects the chaotic and morally compromised period in Israel's history, showcasing the need for repentance and reconciliation among God's people. It serves as a reminder of the importance of unity, justice, and seeking God's guidance in times of crisis.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And said, O Lord God of Israel,.... Jehovah, the only living and true God, the Being of beings, eternal, immutable, omnipotent and omnipresent, the God of all Israel, of the twelve tribes of Israel, their covenant God and Father; who had shown favour to them in such a peculiar and gracious manner, as he had not to other nations, and therefore hoped he would still have a kind regard unto them, and suffer them to expostulate with him in the following manner: why is this come to pass in Israel; expressing, as Abarbinel thinks, a concern for the 40,000 men of Israel which fell in the two first battles; but it manifestly refers to the case in the next words: that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel; meaning the tribe of Benjamin, which was all destroyed, excepting six hundred men, and these had no wives to propagate the tribe; and therefore, unless some provision could be made for that, it must in a short time be totally extinct; for which they express great concern, it not being their intention when they made the above oath to extirpate them; but such were now the circumstances of things in Providence, that it must perish unless some way could be found to relieve it, and which their oath seemed to preclude; and this threw them into great perplexity.