Setting – Israel works on repopulating Benjamin and find wives for the remaining men who were not killed in the war.
Content – Israel grieved over what they did to the tribe of Benjamin. Because of their vow (v. 1), “Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, ‘None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin in marriage.’”, they didn’t have any daughters to offer to the remnants of Benjamin. Israel was sorry for what occurred (v. 6), “And the sons of Israel were sorry for their brother Benjamin and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel today.’”
They when they assembled for war Jabesh-gilead didn’t join them. They killed all the inhabitants and left the virgins alive; giving them to the men of Benjamin for wives. This was not enough for all of the men of Benjamin. So they had them take women from a festival, which they did (v. 23), “The sons of Benjamin did so, and took wives according to their number from those who danced, whom they carried away. And they went and returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the cities and lived in them.”
Application – Israel kept to their oath of given none of their daughters to the tribe of Benjamin. During a time when “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” they kept their oaths. We see what sin did to the family of Israel, specially the tribe of Benjamin. But we see Israel’s effort to help the remnant of Benjamin.
Even though sin wreaks havoc on people and person, we are to help restore those back to the family of God. Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; {each one} looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” This is completely against our instincts; we want to bury those whose sin affects us. We don’t remove the consequences of the sin, but we come along side the person and help them to rebuild themselves. We see Israel’s goal was to help rebuild what was destroyed.
Content – Israel grieved over what they did to the tribe of Benjamin. Because of their vow (v. 1), “Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, ‘None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin in marriage.’”, they didn’t have any daughters to offer to the remnants of Benjamin. Israel was sorry for what occurred (v. 6), “And the sons of Israel were sorry for their brother Benjamin and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel today.’”
They when they assembled for war Jabesh-gilead didn’t join them. They killed all the inhabitants and left the virgins alive; giving them to the men of Benjamin for wives. This was not enough for all of the men of Benjamin. So they had them take women from a festival, which they did (v. 23), “The sons of Benjamin did so, and took wives according to their number from those who danced, whom they carried away. And they went and returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the cities and lived in them.”
Application – Israel kept to their oath of given none of their daughters to the tribe of Benjamin. During a time when “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” they kept their oaths. We see what sin did to the family of Israel, specially the tribe of Benjamin. But we see Israel’s effort to help the remnant of Benjamin.
Even though sin wreaks havoc on people and person, we are to help restore those back to the family of God. Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; {each one} looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” This is completely against our instincts; we want to bury those whose sin affects us. We don’t remove the consequences of the sin, but we come along side the person and help them to rebuild themselves. We see Israel’s goal was to help rebuild what was destroyed.
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