Judges 21:8
New International Version
Then they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to assemble before the LORD at Mizpah?” They discovered that no one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the camp for the assembly.

New Living Translation
So they asked, “Who among the tribes of Israel did not join us at Mizpah when we assembled in the presence of the LORD?” And they discovered that no one from Jabesh-gilead had attended the assembly.

English Standard Version
And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly.

Berean Standard Bible
So they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah?” And, in fact, no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp for the assembly.

King James Bible
And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.

New King James Version
And they said, “What one is there from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to Mizpah to the LORD?” And, in fact, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh Gilead to the assembly.

New American Standard Bible
And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not go up to the LORD at Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

NASB 1995
And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

NASB 1977
And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

Legacy Standard Bible
So they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel who did not come up to Yahweh at Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

Amplified Bible
And they said, “Which one is there of the tribes from Israel that did not come up to Mizpah to the LORD?” And behold, [it was discovered that] no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly.

Christian Standard Bible
They asked, “Which city among the tribes of Israel didn’t come to the LORD at Mizpah? ” It turned out that no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp and the assembly.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They asked, “Which city among the tribes of Israel didn’t come to the LORD at Mizpah?” It turned out that no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp and the assembly.

American Standard Version
And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up unto Jehovah to Mizpah? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

English Revised Version
And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up unto the LORD to Mizpah? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then they asked, "Is there any family from Israel that did not come into the presence of the LORD at Mizpah?" No one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the assembly in the camp.

Good News Translation
When they asked if there was some group out of the tribes of Israel that had not gone to the gathering at Mizpah, they found out that no one from Jabesh in Gilead had been there;

International Standard Version
They asked, "What one group of the tribes of Israel didn't come up to meet the LORD at Mizpah?" It turned out that no one had come to the encampment from Jabesh-gilead,

Majority Standard Bible
So they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah?” And, in fact, no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp for the assembly.

NET Bible
So they asked, "Who from all the Israelite tribes did not assemble before the LORD at Mizpah?" Now it just so happened no one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the gathering.

New Heart English Bible
They said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah?" Look, no one came to the camp from Jabesh Gilead to the assembly.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? and behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

World English Bible
They said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel who didn’t come up to Yahweh to Mizpah?” Behold, no one came from Jabesh Gilead to the camp to the assembly.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they say, “Who is [that] one out of the tribes of Israel who has not come up to YHWH to Mizpeh?” And behold, none has come to the camp from Jabesh-Gilead—to the assembly.

Young's Literal Translation
And they say, 'Who is that one out of the tribes of Israel who hath not come up unto Jehovah to Mizpeh?' and lo, none hath come in unto the camp from Jabesh-Gilead -- unto the assembly.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will say, What one from the tribes of Israel who came not up to Jehovah to Mizpeh? And behold, not a man came from the camp of Jabesh-Gilead to the gathering.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore they said: Who is thereof all the tribes of Israel, that came not up to the Lord to Maspha. And behold the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad were found not to have been in that army.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For this reason, they said, “Who is there, out of all the tribes of Israel, that did not ascend to the Lord at Mizpah?” And behold, the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead were found not to have been among that army.

New American Bible
And when they asked, “Is there one among the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the LORD in Mizpah?” they found that none of the men of Jabesh-gilead had come to the encampment for the assembly.

New Revised Standard Version
Then they said, “Is there anyone from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah?” It turned out that no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp, to the assembly.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they said, Which one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to Mizpeh before the LORD? And, behold, there had come none to the camp from the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they were saying: “Which one of the tribes of Israel is it that did not come up before LORD JEHOVAH to Metspaya?” And the men from the inhabitants of Yabish of Gelad did not come to the encampment
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they said: 'What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up unto the LORD to Mizpah?' And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they said, What one man is there of the tribes of Israel, who went not up to the Lord to Massephath? and, behold, no man came to the camp from Jabis Galaad to the assembly.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wives for the Benjamites
7What should we do about wives for the survivors, since we have sworn by the LORD not to give them our daughters in marriage?” 8So they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to come up before the LORD at Mizpah?” And, in fact, no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp for the assembly. 9For when the people were counted, none of the residents of Jabesh-gilead were there.…

Cross References
Judges 20:1-2
Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah. / The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.

Judges 20:8-11
Then all the people stood as one man and said, “Not one of us will return to his tent or to his house. / Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will go against it as the lot dictates. / We will take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to supply provisions for the army when they go to Gibeah in Benjamin to punish them for the atrocity they have committed in Israel.” ...

Judges 20:18
The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied.

Judges 20:26-28
Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. / And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, / and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”

Judges 20:35
The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.

Judges 20:48
And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path.

1 Samuel 11:1-11
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” / But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.” / “Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.” ...

1 Samuel 15:4
So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.

1 Samuel 31:11-13
When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, / all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there. / Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

2 Samuel 2:4-7
Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” / So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him. / Now may the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness, and I will also show you the same favor because you have done this. ...

2 Samuel 21:1-14
During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” / At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.) / So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?” ...

1 Kings 12:16-20
When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home, / but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. / Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem. ...

2 Chronicles 30:1-11
Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. / For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month, / since they had been unable to keep it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem. ...

Ezra 10:1-5
While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well. / Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel. / So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. ...

Nehemiah 9:1-3
On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads. / Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. / While they stood in their places, they read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and they spent another quarter of the day in confession and worship of the LORD their God.


Treasury of Scripture

And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.

1 Samuel 31:11
And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;

1 Samuel 11:1-3
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee…

1 Samuel 31:11-13
And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; …

2 Samuel 2:5,6
And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him…

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Judges 21
1. The people bewail the desolation of Benjamin
8. By the destruction of Jabesh Gilead they provide them four hundred wives.
16. They advise the remainder to surprise the virgins that danced at Shiloh














So they asked
This phrase indicates a moment of inquiry and reflection among the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "asked" is שָׁאַל (sha'al), which often implies seeking guidance or understanding. In the context of Judges, this reflects the Israelites' need for divine direction during a time of moral and social chaos. It underscores the importance of seeking God's will in times of uncertainty.

Which one of the tribes of Israel
The phrase highlights the collective identity of the Israelites as God's chosen people, bound by covenant. Each tribe had a responsibility to uphold the covenantal relationship with God. Historically, the tribes were expected to unite for religious and national purposes, emphasizing the communal aspect of their faith and identity.

failed to come up to the LORD
This phrase suggests a failure in duty and obedience. The Hebrew word for "failed" can be linked to the concept of missing the mark, akin to sin. Coming "up to the LORD" implies a pilgrimage or gathering for worship, a critical aspect of Israelite religious life. This failure indicates a breach in communal worship and loyalty to God.

at Mizpah
Mizpah was a significant site for Israelite gatherings and covenant renewals. Archaeologically, Mizpah is identified with Tell en-Nasbeh, a site with evidence of ancient occupation. Historically, it served as a rallying point for the tribes, symbolizing unity and collective action under God's guidance.

And, behold
This expression serves as an attention-grabbing device, urging the reader to take notice of the situation. It often precedes significant revelations or events in Scripture, highlighting the gravity of what follows.

no one from Jabesh-gilead
Jabesh-gilead was a city east of the Jordan River, within the territory of Manasseh. Its absence from the assembly is notable, suggesting a disconnect or rebellion against the collective will of Israel. Historically, Jabesh-gilead's isolation may reflect geographical and political factors influencing its participation in national matters.

had come to the camp for the assembly
The "camp" and "assembly" refer to the gathering of Israelite tribes for a common purpose, often religious or military. The absence of Jabesh-gilead from this assembly indicates a failure to participate in the communal life of Israel, which was essential for maintaining unity and fulfilling God's commands. This highlights the importance of community and collective responsibility in the life of faith.

(8) There came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead.--Jabesh-Gilead, which Josephus calls the metropolis of Gilead (Antt. vi. 5, ? 1), is probably to be identified with the ruins now called El-Deir in the Wady Yabes (Robinson, 3:319). It was six miles from Pella, on the top of a hill which lies on the road from Pella to Gerasa. For some reason with which we are unacquainted, there seems to have been a bond of intense sympathy between the inhabitants of this town and Benjamin. If their abstinence from the assembly of vengeance was not due to this, we must suppose that the sort of companionship in misery caused by these wild events itself created a sense of union between these communities, for it is the peril of Jabesh which first arouses King Saul to action (1 Samuel 11). and in memory of the deliverance which he effected the men of Jabesh alone save the bodies of Saul and Jonathan from the indignity of rotting on the wall of Bethshan (1Samuel 31:11), which gained them the blessing of David (2Samuel 2:5-6). We see from these later incidents that Jabesh recovered from the extermination now inflicted on its inhabitants.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So they asked,
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Which
מִ֗י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

one
אֶחָד֙ (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

of the tribes
מִשִּׁבְטֵ֣י (miš·šiḇ·ṭê)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

failed
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to come up
עָלָ֥ה (‘ā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

before
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

at Mizpah?”
הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה (ham·miṣ·pāh)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4709: Mizpah -- the name of several places in Israel

And in fact,
וְ֠הִנֵּה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

no one
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

from Jabesh-gilead
מִיָּבֵ֥ישׁ (mî·yā·ḇêš)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3003: Jabesh -- a place in Gilead, also an Israelite

had come
בָא־ (ḇā-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the camp
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה (ham·ma·ḥă·neh)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army

for the assembly.
הַקָּהָֽל׃ (haq·qā·hāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6951: Assembly, convocation, congregation


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OT History: Judges 21:8 They said What one is there (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 21:7
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