Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Judges, Chapter 21ΚΡΙΤΑΙ ΚΑ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Benjamin is restored by desperate expedients, and Judges closes with Israel's kingless disorder still unresolved.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Judges 21 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. Judges survives in two distinct Greek text-forms — the so-called A-text (associated with Codex Alexandrinus and the recensions) and the B-text (associated with Codex Vaticanus and the Kaige tradition) — and Rahlfs prints the two in parallel for much of the book; the verbatim reference annotated here is the Rahlfs text as supplied. Chapter 21 brings the book to its close: the men of Israel, having all but exterminated Benjamin in the war of chapters 19–20, now confront the catastrophe of a vanished tribe (vv. 1–6). Bound by the oath sworn at Mizpah (Μασσηφα) not to give their daughters to Benjamin (v. 1), they weep before God at Bethel (Βαιθηλ, vv. 2–3) and seek a legal loophole. They discover that no one from Jabesh-gilead (Ιαβις Γαλααδ) had come up to the assembly (vv. 8–9), and so put the city to the ban (ἀναθεματιεῖτε, v. 11) — the LXX term for ḥerem-devotion — sparing only its four hundred virgins to be wives for the six hundred Benjaminite survivors (vv. 10–14). Still short, the elders counsel the Benjaminites to lie in ambush in the vineyards at the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh (Σηλων) and to seize the dancing girls (vv. 15–23). The tribe is thereby restored, and the people disperse each to his own inheritance (v. 24). The book then ends, without resolution, on its recurrent refrain (v. 25): ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ισραηλ· ἀνὴρ τὸ εὐθὲς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐποίει ('In those days there was no king in Israel; each man did what was right in his own eyes') — the closing line of the entire Book of Judges, framing the lawless cycle of the period and looking ahead, by its very lack, toward the monarchy of Samuel–Kings. Notable LXX renderings include the ḥerem vocabulary ἀναθεματιεῖτε (v. 11), the cognate-dative Hebraism θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται ('he shall surely be put to death', v. 5), the ban-formula ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας ('with the edge of the sword', v. 10), and the legal idiom εἰδυῖαν κοίτην ἄρσενος ('who has known the bed of a male', v. 11).

1

καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ὤμοσαν ἐν Μασσηφα λέγοντες ἀνὴρ ἐξ ἡμῶν οὐ δώσει θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ τῷ Βενιαμιν εἰς γυναῖκα

And the sons of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, saying, 'No man from among us shall give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.'

Opening narrative summary (retrospective oath that frames the whole chapter)καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ὤμοσαν
The chapter opens by recalling the oath of Mizpah sworn during the war on Benjamin (chs. 19–20); the aorist ὤμοσαν has a pluperfect force ('had sworn'), establishing the legal predicament that drives all the action of ch. 21. The καί-parataxis links the chapter to the preceding war narrative as its immediate aftermath.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (with Ισραηλ: 'the sons of Israel')υἱός: 'son'; the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant nation acting corporately; here it denotes the assembled tribes who bound themselves by oath at Mizpah.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; functions here as a genitive defining υἱοί ('sons of Israel'), the corporate national subject.
ὤμοσανthey swore / had swornAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὀμνύωmain verb (the framing oath)→ constative aorist with pluperfect force (a completed oath governing later events)ὀμνύω: 'swear (an oath)'; renders שָׁבַע (Niphal); the aorist here looks back to the oath taken during the Benjaminite war; the oath's irrevocability is the legal engine of the entire chapter, forcing Israel to seek wives for Benjamin by indirect means.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΜασσηφαMizpahobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name: location of the oath)Μασσηφα: transliteration of Hebrew מִצְפָּה ('watchtower'); indeclinable in the LXX; Mizpah was the assembly-site of the tribes during the war on Benjamin (Judg 20:1, 3) and thus the place where the binding oath was sworn.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct quotation of the oath)→ circumstantial participle (Hebraizing לֵאמֹר citation-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): the nominative plural participle λέγοντες renders the Hebrew infinitive לֵאמֹר, a standard LXX device for introducing direct speech; it agrees with the subject υἱοί and presents the content of the oath.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of δώσει (distributive: 'no man / each man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; here distributive with the negative — 'not a man from among us', i.e. 'no one of us' — a Hebraic idiom for universal individual obligation.
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'from among us')ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (partitive: 'of us')ἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): the first-person plural locates the speakers as the oath-bound community; ἀνὴρ ἐξ ἡμῶν = 'no one among us.'
οὐnotnegative adverb (with δώσει)οὐ: the negative with the future indicative δώσει expresses a categorical prohibitive oath — 'shall by no means give' — equivalent to a binding curse-sanctioned vow.
δώσειshall giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb of the oath (future of prohibition)→ imperatival/prohibitive future (the content of a sworn vow)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the future with οὐ functions as a solemn prohibition — to 'give a daughter' is the standard idiom for arranging a marriage; the oath bars all intermarriage with Benjamin.
θυγατέραdaughterAccusativedirect object of δώσειθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; 'to give a daughter to' (someone) is the conventional Hebrew/Greek idiom for giving in marriage; the oath thus forbids Israel from supplying Benjamin with wives from its own families.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θυγατέρα)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τῷto theDativearticle (with Βενιαμιν, marking it as the dative recipient)the article τῷ governs the indeclinable Βενιαμιν, signaling its dative case ('to Benjamin') — a common LXX device for declining indeclinable Hebrew names by means of the Greek article.
ΒενιαμινBenjamindative recipient (indeclinable; case marked by τῷ)Βενιαμιν: transliteration of Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין ('son of the right hand'); indeclinable in the LXX; here it denotes the tribe collectively as the would-be recipient of marriage-alliance, barred by the oath.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as a wife')εἰς + accusative: here predicative ('to become / as'), a Hebraism rendering לְ of result/role (לְאִשָּׁה, 'as a wife'); cf. the same idiom throughout the chapter (vv. 7, 18).
γυναῖκαa wifeAccusativepredicate accusative with εἰς ('as a wife')γυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; the predicative εἰς γυναῖκα ('as a wife') defines the purpose of the giving; the term recurs as the leitmotif of the chapter — the search for wives for Benjamin.
2

καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ λαὸς εἰς Βαιθηλ καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐκεῖ ἕως ἑσπέρας ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἦραν φωνὴν αὐτῶν καὶ ἔκλαυσαν κλαυθμὸν μέγαν

And the people came to Bethel and sat there until evening before God, and they lifted up their voice and wept a great weeping.

Narrative sequence (the people's grief at Bethel)καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ λαὸς
The scene shifts to Bethel, a sanctuary-site, where the people sit before God in mourning posture. The cognate-accusative ἔκλαυσαν κλαυθμὸν μέγαν ('wept a great weeping') is a Hebraism intensifying the lament; the construction ἦραν φωνήν ('lifted up the voice') is likewise a Hebraic idiom for loud, public grief.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (movement to Bethel; sg. with collective subject)→ constative aorist (single completed movement)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; renders בּוֹא; the singular verb with the collective λαός ('people') is normal Greek constructio ad sensum; the people move to Bethel, a cult-place, for corporate lament before God.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject (collective)λαός: 'people'; renders עַם; the standard LXX term for Israel as covenant assembly; the collective noun governs a singular verb (ἦλθεν) but plural verbs follow (ἐκάθισαν, ἦραν, ἔκλαυσαν) by sense-construction.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒαιθηλBethelobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Βαιθηλ: transliteration of Hebrew בֵּית־אֵל ('house of God'); indeclinable in the LXX; an ancient cult-site, here the place where Israel laments and inquires of God; some traditions render the term as 'house of God' rather than the place-name (cf. v. 19).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάθισανthey satAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καθίζωmain verb (mourning posture; plural by sense)→ constative aoristκαθίζω: 'sit / sit down'; renders יָשַׁב; sitting before God 'until evening' is a posture of mourning, supplication, and prolonged lament (cf. Job 2:13; Ezra 9:4–5).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates the prolonged lament at Bethel.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal limit)ἕως: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal: 'until evening')ἑσπέρα: 'evening'; renders עֶרֶב; 'until evening' marks the daylong duration of the lament, a measure of its intensity and gravity.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (in the presence of God)ἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; the people lament 'before God', i.e. in his cultic presence at the sanctuary, seeking divine guidance for the crisis.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιονθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the people sit 'before God' at the sanctuary; the term here is the generic divine title, not the Tetragrammaton.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦρανthey lifted upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · αἴρωmain verb (idiom: 'lifted up the voice')→ constative aorist (inceptive of loud lament)αἴρω: 'lift / raise / take up'; the idiom ἦραν φωνήν renders נָשָׂא קוֹל ('lift up the voice'), a Hebraism denoting loud public crying or weeping (cf. Gen 21:16; Judg 2:4).
φωνὴνvoiceAccusativedirect object of ἦραν (idiomatic)φωνή: 'voice / sound'; renders קוֹל; in the idiom αἴρω φωνήν it denotes the audible outcry of lament raised collectively before God.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying φωνήν)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔκλαυσανthey weptAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κλαίωmain verb (cognate-accusative construction)→ constative aoristκλαίω: 'weep / cry'; renders בָּכָה; the cognate-accusative ἔκλαυσαν κλαυθμὸν μέγαν ('wept a great weeping') intensifies the lament in Hebraizing fashion, marking the depth of national grief over Benjamin.
κλαυθμὸνweepingAccusativecognate accusative with ἔκλαυσαν (Hebraism)κλαυθμός: 'weeping / wailing'; the cognate noun with κλαίω forms a figura etymologica intensifying the verb — 'wept a great weeping' — rendering the Hebrew construction בָּכוּ בְּכִי, an emphatic expression of profound mourning.
μέγανgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying κλαυθμόν)μέγας: 'great / large'; renders גָּדוֹל; intensifies κλαυθμόν, conveying the magnitude of the corporate lament that opens the chapter's crisis.
3

καὶ εἶπαν εἰς τί κύριε θεὲ Ισραηλ ἐγενήθη αὕτη τοῦ ἐπισκεπῆναι σήμερον ἀπὸ Ισραηλ φυλὴν μίαν

And they said, 'Why, O LORD God of Israel, has this come about, that today one tribe should be missing from Israel?'

Direct speech: lament-question addressed to YHWHκαὶ εἶπαν εἰς τί
The lament crystallizes into a direct interrogative prayer addressed to YHWH (κύριε θεὲ Ισραηλ). The idiom εἰς τί ('to what end / why') renders Hebrew לָמָּה; the articular infinitive τοῦ ἐπισκεπῆναι ('that it should be missing') expresses result/content. The cry is theological — it implies that the catastrophe, though self-inflicted, is somehow 'from' God's permitting hand.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the Hellenistic aorist εἶπαν (with -αν ending) introduces the people's lament-prayer; common in the LXX alongside the classical εἶπον.
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (in idiom εἰς τί: 'why')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τίwhat / whyAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (in idiom εἰς τί: 'to what end, why')τίς, τί: interrogative pronoun; the idiom εἰς τί ('for what purpose / why') renders Hebrew לָמָּה; it opens a lament-question expressing bewildered grief before God.
κύριεO LORDVocativevocative of address (to YHWH)κύριος (voc. κύριε): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the vocative addresses YHWH directly in prayer; the address κύριε θεὲ Ισραηλ ('O LORD God of Israel') invokes the covenant deity by his proper name and national title.
θεὲGodVocativevocative in apposition to κύριεθεός (voc. θεέ): 'God'; renders אֱלֹהֵי; the vocative is in apposition to κύριε, forming the solemn covenant-address 'O LORD God of Israel' (יהוה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל).
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel', with θεέ)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; here a genitive defining θεέ — 'God of Israel', the covenant title invoking YHWH's special relationship with the nation now imperiled.
ἐγενήθηhas come aboutAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb of the question (with subject αὕτη)→ constative aorist (an accomplished, lamented state of affairs)γίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'become / happen / come to be'; renders הָיָה; the passive ἐγενήθη ('has come to be') presents the catastrophe as an event that has befallen Israel; the implied subject αὕτη points to 'this (thing/situation)'.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative subject of ἐγενήθη ('this thing/situation')οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο: the feminine demonstrative αὕτη ('this') stands as subject — 'why has this come to be?' — referring to the calamity of the missing tribe; the feminine may agree with an implied αὕτη ἡ συμφορά or anticipate φυλήν.
τοῦthat / toGenitivearticle with infinitive (genitive articular infinitive of result/content)the genitive article τοῦ + infinitive ἐπισκεπῆναι forms an articular infinitive expressing result or content — 'that one tribe should be missing'; a frequent LXX construction rendering Hebrew infinitival clauses.
ἐπισκεπῆναιto be missing / be lackingAor Pass Inf · ἐπισκέπτομαιarticular infinitive (result/content of the calamity)ἐπισκέπτομαι: lit. 'visit / inspect / muster'; in the passive here it carries the sense 'be missed / be found lacking (at a muster)', rendering Hebrew פָּקַד in its sense 'be missing'; the idea is that one tribe is now absent from the muster-roll of Israel.
σήμερονtodayadverb of timeσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; underscores the immediacy and rawness of the loss — this very day a tribe stands on the brink of disappearance.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from Israel')ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἀπό (indeclinable: separation/source)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; object of ἀπό ('from Israel'), marking the tribal whole from which one part is being lost.
φυλὴνtribeAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive ἐπισκεπῆναιφυλή: 'tribe'; renders שֵׁבֶט / מַטֶּה; as accusative subject of the passive infinitive it designates the one tribe (Benjamin) threatened with extinction from the twelve.
μίανoneAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying φυλήν: 'one tribe')εἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the feminine μίαν agrees with φυλήν; the stress on 'one tribe' dramatizes the wound to the twelve-tribe integrity of Israel.
4

καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἐπαύριον καὶ ὤρθρισεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν ἐκεῖ θυσιαστήριον καὶ ἀνήνεγκαν ὁλοκαυτώσεις καὶ τελείας

And it came about on the next day that the people rose early and built there an altar and offered up whole burnt offerings and peace offerings.

Narrative sequence with temporal formula (the cultic response)καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἐπαύριον
The temporal formula καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἐπαύριον ('and it came about on the next day') is a classic LXX Hebraism (וַיְהִי מִמָּחֳרָת). The people move from lament (v. 2) to cultic action: building an altar and offering burnt and peace offerings — the proper liturgical means of approaching God for guidance and reconciliation amid the crisis.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (opening temporal formula)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came aboutAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb of temporal formula (καὶ ἐγένετο = 'and it came to pass')→ constative aorist (narrative time-marker)γίνομαι: the formula καὶ ἐγένετο renders Hebrew וַיְהִי, a standard LXX temporal connector introducing a new narrative episode set at a fixed time.
τῇon theDativearticle (dative of time, with ἐπαύριον)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπαύριονnext day / morrowadverb substantivized by τῇ (dative of time: 'on the next day')ἐπαύριον: 'on the next day / on the morrow'; with the article τῇ it functions as a temporal substantive; the phrase τῇ ἐπαύριον renders מִמָּחֳרָת, marking the new day's cultic action after the daylong lament.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis-marker after ἐγένετο)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὤρθρισενrose earlyAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀρθρίζωmain verb (sg. with collective λαός)→ constative aorist (inceptive of the day's action)ὀρθρίζω: 'rise early / do at dawn'; renders שָׁכַם (Hiphil); to 'rise early' often signals earnest, purposeful action — here the people's eager turn to cultic remedy at first light.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject (collective)λαός: 'people'; the collective subject takes a singular verb (ὤρθρισεν) then plural verbs (ᾠκοδόμησαν, ἀνήνεγκαν) by sense-construction.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ᾠκοδόμησανthey builtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · οἰκοδομέωmain verb (plural by sense)→ constative aoristοἰκοδομέω: 'build / construct'; renders בָּנָה; building an altar establishes a place of sacrificial approach to God; the same verb recurs at v. 23 of Benjamin rebuilding its cities — a structural echo of restoration.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (at Bethel)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates the altar-building at Bethel, the lament-site of vv. 2–3.
θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativedirect object of ᾠκοδόμησανθυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; the LXX's distinctive coinage (from θυσιάζω) for the legitimate altar of YHWH, rendering מִזְבֵּחַ; distinguished in the LXX from βωμός (often a pagan altar); its building signals proper worship in the midst of crisis.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνήνεγκανthey offered upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναφέρωmain verb (offering sacrifices)→ constative aoristἀναφέρω: 'bring up / offer up'; renders הֶעֱלָה (Hiphil of עָלָה), the technical verb for offering sacrifices that ascend in smoke; the cognate of ὁλοκαύτωσις ('whole burnt offering') reinforces the sense of total, ascending sacrifice.
ὁλοκαυτώσειςwhole burnt offeringsAccusativedirect object of ἀνήνεγκανὁλοκαύτωσις: 'whole burnt offering' (lit. 'wholly burnt'); renders עֹלָה; the sacrifice entirely consumed on the altar, expressing total dedication and atonement; standard LXX term alongside ὁλοκαύτωμα.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τελείαςpeace offeringsAccusativedirect object of ἀνήνεγκαν (coordinate with ὁλοκαυτώσεις)τέλειος (here substantivized fem. pl. τελείας, sc. θυσίας): 'perfect / complete offerings'; the LXX uses θυσία τελεία / εἰρηνική to render שְׁלָמִים, the 'peace' or 'fellowship' offerings; the pairing of burnt and peace offerings denotes full liturgical approach — atonement and communion together, seeking reconciliation amid the national rupture.
5

καὶ εἶπον οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τίς οὐκ ἀνέβη ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀπὸ πασῶν φυλῶν Ισραηλ πρὸς κύριον ὅτι ὁ ὅρκος μέγας ἦν τοῖς οὐκ ἀναβεβηκόσιν πρὸς κύριον εἰς Μασσηφα λέγοντες θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται

And the sons of Israel said, 'Who is there that did not come up in the assembly from all the tribes of Israel to the LORD?'; for the oath was a great one against those who had not come up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, 'He shall surely be put to death.'

Direct question + narratorial explanatory clause (the second binding oath)καὶ εἶπον οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τίς
Israel poses a second question — who failed to muster? — introducing a search for the loophole that will solve the wife-shortage. The ὅτι-clause is the narrator's explanation: a second oath (distinct from v. 1's marriage-oath) had imposed the death penalty on any tribe absent from the Mizpah assembly. The cognate-dative θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται ('he shall surely be put to death') is a classic LXX Hebraism rendering the emphatic infinitive absolute מוֹת יוּמַת.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; classical aorist εἶπον (3 pl.); introduces the people's deliberative question about who failed to assemble at Mizpah.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (with Ισραηλ)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') is the corporate national subject deliberating in assembly.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable; genitive defining υἱοί.
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of ἀνέβη)τίς: interrogative pronoun 'who?'; opens the deliberative question seeking the tribe or group that defaulted on the Mizpah muster.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἀνέβη)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀνέβηcame upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωverb of the indirect question→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up / come up'; renders עָלָה; 'going up' to the assembly is the technical term for attending a sacral convocation; failure to 'come up' constitutes the default that triggers the death-oath.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere: 'in the assembly')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἐκκλησίᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκκλησίᾳassemblyDativedative object of ἐν (sphere of the gathering)ἐκκλησία: 'assembly / congregation'; renders קָהָל; the sacral convocation of the tribes (cf. the later Christian appropriation of the term); here the muster of all Israel before YHWH at Mizpah.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'from all the tribes')ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πασῶνallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying φυλῶν)πᾶς (fem. gen. pl. πασῶν): 'all'; modifies φυλῶν — the inquiry surveys 'all the tribes of Israel' to find the defaulter.
φυλῶνtribesGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (partitive)φυλή: 'tribe'; renders שֵׁבֶט; the tribal totality 'all the tribes of Israel' frames the search for the one group that failed to assemble.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable; defines φυλῶν ('tribes of Israel').
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward YHWH)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (goal of the assembly)κύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; 'coming up to the LORD' designates the cultic gathering at the sanctuary; the assembly was convened in YHWH's presence, making absence a covenant offense.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (introducing narratorial explanation)ὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the narrator's explanatory clause accounting for the gravity of the question — a death-oath bound all the tribes.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ὅρκος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅρκοςoathNominativesubject of ἦνὅρκος: 'oath'; renders שְׁבוּעָה; this is a second oath, distinct from the marriage-oath of v. 1 — a sworn sanction of death against any tribe absent from the Mizpah convocation.
μέγαςgreat / weightyNominativepredicate adjective (with ἦν)μέγας: 'great / weighty / solemn'; here predicate — the oath 'was great', i.e. carried the gravest sanction (death); its weight explains both the urgency of the question and the legal force that will be invoked against Jabesh-gilead.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (linking ὅρκος and μέγας)→ stative imperfect (the standing force of the oath)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'be'; the imperfect denotes the oath's continuing binding force at the time of the narrative.
τοῖςagainst thoseDativearticle with participle (dative of disadvantage)the article τοῖς substantivizes the following participle ἀναβεβηκόσιν; the dative is one of disadvantage — 'against those who...' — those liable to the death-sanction.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἀναβεβηκόσιν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀναβεβηκόσινwho had come upPerf Act Ptcp Dat Masc Pl · ἀναβαίνωsubstantivized participle (dative: 'those who had not come up')→ perfect participle (settled state of non-attendance)ἀναβαίνω (perf. ptcp.): the perfect 'who had (not) come up' denotes the abiding fact of their absence from the muster; the oath's sanction falls on this standing condition of non-attendance.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward YHWH)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςκύριος (acc.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the assembly's goal — those who failed to come up 'to the LORD' are the oath's targets.
εἰςto / atpreposition + accusative (place: Mizpah)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΜασσηφαMizpahobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Μασσηφα: indeclinable; the muster-site of Mizpah, place of both the assembly and the death-oath.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the content of the oath)→ circumstantial participle (Hebraizing citation-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): λέγοντες renders Hebrew לֵאמֹר, introducing the verbatim content of the death-oath; the nominative is loosely attached (constructio ad sensum) to the oath-takers.
θανάτῳwith death / surelyDativecognate dative with θανατωθήσεται (Hebraism)θάνατος (dat. θανάτῳ): 'death'; the cognate dative θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται renders the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute מוֹת יוּמַת ('he shall surely be put to death'); the dativus cognatus intensifies the certainty of the death-sanction (cf. the parallel idiom at Gen 2:17).
θανατωθήσεταιhe shall be put to deathFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb of the oath-sanction (cognate-dative construction)→ predictive/legal future (irrevocable sworn penalty)θανατόω: 'put to death'; renders מוּת (Hophal); the future passive with the cognate dative expresses the binding legal sanction of the oath — capital judgment on any defaulting party; this oath provides the legal pretext for the ḥerem on Jabesh-gilead (vv. 10–11).
6

καὶ παρεκλήθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ πρὸς Βενιαμιν ἀδελφὸν αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπαν ἐξεκόπη σήμερον φυλὴ μία ἀπὸ Ισραηλ

And the sons of Israel were grieved (and comforted) concerning Benjamin their brother, and they said, 'Today one tribe has been cut off from Israel.'

Narrative + direct speech (relenting toward Benjamin)καὶ παρεκλήθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ
The verb παρεκλήθησαν (from παρακαλέω) carries a double range — 'be comforted' and 'relent / have a change of heart toward'; here Israel's hostility toward Benjamin softens into fraternal grief. The kinship term ἀδελφόν ('their brother') signals the shift from enemy to brother. The lament ἐξεκόπη ('has been cut off') uses the imagery of a branch hewn from the tree of Israel.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρεκλήθησανwere grieved / relentedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · παρακαλέωmain verb (change of disposition toward Benjamin)→ ingressive aorist (entering a relenting/consoled state)παρακαλέω: 'call alongside / comfort / exhort / relent'; in the passive here it denotes Israel's emotional turn toward Benjamin — comforted in grief and moved to compassion (rendering Hebrew נִחַם, 'be moved to pity / relent'); the same verb recurs at v. 15 (παρεκλήθη).
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (with Ισραηλ)υἱός: 'son'; the national subject now moved to fraternal compassion.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; defines υἱοί.
πρὸςconcerning / towardpreposition + accusative (object of relenting: 'toward Benjamin')πρός + accusative: here 'toward / concerning' — the object of Israel's relenting compassion is Benjamin; the preposition marks the direction of the changed disposition.
ΒενιαμινBenjaminobject of πρός (indeclinable tribal name)Βενιαμιν: indeclinable; the brother-tribe toward whom Israel now relents.
ἀδελφὸνbrotherAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Βενιαμινἀδελφός: 'brother'; renders אָח; the appositive ἀδελφὸν αὐτῶν ('their brother') stresses the kinship bond that softens Israel's hostility — Benjamin is family, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, not a foreign enemy.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἀδελφόν)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; Hellenistic aorist εἶπαν; introduces the lament over the loss of a tribe.
ἐξεκόπηhas been cut offAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐκκόπτωmain verb of the lament (passive: 'has been cut off')→ constative aorist (accomplished severance)ἐκκόπτω: 'cut off / hew down'; renders גָּדַע / נִכְרַת; the imagery is of a branch or limb severed from the tree of Israel; the passive presents the tribe's near-extinction as a completed amputation from the national body.
σήμερονtodayadverb of timeσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; echoes v. 3, intensifying the immediacy of the loss now lamented.
φυλὴtribeNominativesubject of ἐξεκόπηφυλή: 'tribe'; the severed member is 'one tribe' — Benjamin — whose loss wounds the twelvefold integrity of Israel.
μίαoneNominativeattributive numeral (with φυλή)εἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; μία agrees with φυλή; the stress on 'one tribe' (echoing v. 3) frames the catastrophe as the loss of an irreplaceable twelfth of the nation.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἀπό (indeclinable: separation)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the whole from which the tribe has been severed.
7

τί ποιήσωμεν αὐτοῖς τοῖς περισσοῖς τοῖς ὑπολειφθεῖσιν εἰς γυναῖκας καὶ ἡμεῖς ὠμόσαμεν ἐν κυρίῳ τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων ἡμῶν εἰς γυναῖκας

'What shall we do for those who remain, for the survivors, regarding wives? For we ourselves have sworn by the LORD not to give them any of our daughters as wives.'

Deliberative question + causal explanation (the marriage-impasse stated)τί ποιήσωμεν αὐτοῖς
The deliberative subjunctive τί ποιήσωμεν ('what shall we do?') frames the central problem of the chapter: how to provide wives for the Benjaminite survivors without violating the Mizpah oath of v. 1. The καί here is explanatory-adversative ('and yet / for'), introducing the obstacle: Israel has sworn by YHWH (ἐν κυρίῳ) not to give daughters to Benjamin.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ποιήσωμεν)τίς, τί: interrogative 'what?'; opens the deliberative question that drives the chapter's plot — the search for a remedy for Benjamin's wifelessness.
ποιήσωμενshall we doAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ποιέωdeliberative subjunctive (main verb of the question)→ deliberative aorist subjunctive (perplexed self-deliberation)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the deliberative subjunctive 'what shall/should we do?' expresses genuine perplexity before a legal-moral dilemma; the same question recurs at v. 16.
αὐτοῖςfor themDativedative of advantage (the survivors)αὐτός (dat. pl.): 'for them'; dative of advantage — the action sought is on behalf of the Benjaminite survivors.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with περισσοῖς, in apposition to αὐτοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περισσοῖςremaining onesDativesubstantivized adjective in apposition to αὐτοῖς ('those who remain')περισσός: 'remaining / surplus / left over'; substantivized 'those remaining' (the surviving Benjaminites, 600 men of Judg 20:47); in apposition to αὐτοῖς, defining who the beneficiaries are.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ὑπολειφθεῖσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑπολειφθεῖσινwho were left / survivorsAor Pass Ptcp Dat Masc Pl · ὑπολείπωsubstantivized participle in apposition (the survivors)→ constative aorist participle (the remnant left after the war)ὑπολείπω: 'leave behind / leave remaining'; the passive participle 'those who were left over' reinforces περισσοῖς — the surviving remnant of Benjamin spared in the war; the doublet 'the remaining... the left' emphasizes how few survived.
εἰςfor / regardingpreposition + accusative (purpose/respect: 'for wives')εἰς + accusative: 'for / with a view to'; specifies the matter at issue — the provision of wives.
γυναῖκαςwivesAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the thing needed)γυνή: 'woman / wife'; the chapter's leitmotif — wives for Benjamin; the plural points to the corporate need of the 600 survivors.
καὶand yet / forconjunction (explanatory-adversative: introducing the obstacle)καί: here with mild adversative/explanatory force — 'and yet / seeing that' — introducing the oath-obstacle that makes the question so difficult.
ἡμεῖςwe ourselvesNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with ὠμόσαμεν)ἐγώ (nom. pl. ἡμεῖς): the emphatic 'we ourselves' stresses that Israel has bound itself — the obstacle is self-imposed by their own oath.
ὠμόσαμενwe have swornAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ὀμνύωmain verb (the binding oath restated)→ constative aorist with present-relevant force ('we have sworn')ὀμνύω: 'swear'; renders שָׁבַע; recalls the oath of v. 1, now stated in the first person as the self-imposed barrier; the same verb recurs at v. 18.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (oath-formula: 'by the LORD')ἐν + dative: in the idiom ὀμνύω ἐν ('swear by'), a Hebraism rendering נִשְׁבַּע בְּ; the oath is sworn 'by the LORD', making it irrevocable on pain of profaning the divine name.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of ἐν (the LORD as guarantor of the oath)κύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; to swear 'by the LORD' invokes YHWH himself as witness and guarantor, rendering the oath absolutely binding.
τοῦnot toGenitivearticle with infinitive (genitive articular infinitive: content of the oath)the genitive article τοῦ + infinitive δοῦναι forms an articular infinitive expressing the content/object of the oath — 'that we would not give'; a common LXX construction after verbs of swearing.
μὴnotnegative adverb (with the infinitive δοῦναι)μή: the negative proper to the infinitive; τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι = 'not to give', the prohibitive content of the sworn oath.
δοῦναιto giveAor Act Inf · δίδωμιarticular infinitive (content of the oath)→ constative aorist infinitiveδίδωμι (aor. inf.): 'give'; renders נָתַן; 'to give (a daughter)' is the marriage idiom; the oath forbids precisely this, creating the impasse.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object of δοῦναι (the Benjaminites)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀπὸfrom / ofpreposition + genitive (partitive: 'any of our daughters')ἀπό: here partitive — 'any of our daughters'; the genitive of source marks the daughters as the prohibited supply.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with θυγατέρων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρωνdaughtersGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (partitive)θυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the daughters of Israel are the prohibited source of wives; the oath bars their being given to Benjamin, forcing the indirect solutions of vv. 10–23.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θυγατέρων)ἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as wives')εἰς + accusative: predicative ('as'), Hebraism rendering לְ; εἰς γυναῖκας = 'as wives'.
γυναῖκαςwivesAccusativepredicate accusative with εἰςγυνή: 'wife'; the predicative εἰς γυναῖκας ('as wives') closes the verse on the very thing the oath forbids — the giving of daughters in marriage to Benjamin.
8

καὶ εἶπαν τίς εἷς ἀπὸ φυλῶν Ισραηλ ὃς οὐκ ἀνέβη πρὸς κύριον εἰς Μασσηφα καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν ἀπὸ Ιαβις Γαλααδ εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν

And they said, 'Who is the one from the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah?' And behold, no man had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly.

Direct question + narratorial discovery (ἰδού)καὶ εἶπαν τίς εἷς
The question of v. 5 is renewed and answered: the search isolates the defaulter. The presentative ἰδού ('behold') marks the narrator's dramatic disclosure of the discovery — no man from Jabesh-gilead had come to the assembly. This default both condemns Jabesh under the death-oath (v. 5) and supplies the means to remedy Benjamin's wifelessness.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces the renewed inquiry about the defaulting party.
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (with εἷς: 'who is the one')τίς: interrogative 'who?'; combined with εἷς it sharpens the inquiry to a single identifiable party.
εἷςoneNominativenumeral in apposition to τίς ('what one / which single party')εἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; τίς εἷς ('who is the one?') seeks the single defaulting group; the construction reflects a Hebraic idiom (מִי אֶחָד) probing for the lone absentee.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'from the tribes')ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
φυλῶνtribesGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (partitive)φυλή: 'tribe'; the inquiry surveys all the tribes for the one that defaulted.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; defines φυλῶν ('tribes of Israel').
ὃςwho / thatNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἀνέβη)ὅς: relative pronoun; introduces the defining clause — 'the one that did not come up'.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἀνέβη)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀνέβηcame upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; the technical term for attending the assembly; failure to 'come up' is the default that condemns Jabesh under the oath of v. 5.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward YHWH)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςκύριος (acc.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the assembly was 'to the LORD' at Mizpah, making non-attendance a sacral offense.
εἰςto / atpreposition + accusative (place)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΜασσηφαMizpahobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Μασσηφα: indeclinable; the muster-site, place of the death-oath.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the discovery)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (drawing attention to the discovery)ἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the presentative particle dramatizes the narrator's disclosure — the search has found its answer.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἦλθεν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἦλθενhad comeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the discovery: no one came)→ constative aorist (with pluperfect nuance: 'had come')ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the negated aorist 'no man had come' confirms Jabesh-gilead's total absence from the muster.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of ἦλθεν (with negative: 'not a man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; with the negative οὐκ … ἀνήρ = 'no one / not a single man'; underscores Jabesh's complete non-participation.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with παρεμβολήν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὴνcampAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the war-camp)παρεμβολή: 'camp / encampment / army'; renders מַחֲנֶה; the military encampment of mustered Israel; no Jabeshite came to it; the term recurs at v. 12.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source: 'from Jabesh-gilead')ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙαβιςJabeshobject of ἀπό (indeclinable place-name)Ιαβις: transliteration of Hebrew יָבֵשׁ (Jabesh); indeclinable in the LXX; with Γαλααδ forms 'Jabesh-gilead', a town in the territory east of the Jordan; its absence makes it the target of the ḥerem.
ΓαλααδGileadindeclinable (in compound place-name 'Jabesh-gilead')Γαλααδ: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְעָד (Gilead); indeclinable; the Transjordanian region; Ιαβις Γαλααδ ('Jabesh of Gilead') specifies the town's location east of the Jordan.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to the assembly')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἐκκλησίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκκλησίανassemblyAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the sacral convocation)ἐκκλησία: 'assembly / congregation'; renders קָהָל; the sacral muster at Mizpah; the doubled goal ('to the camp... to the assembly') stresses the completeness of Jabesh's default.
9

καὶ ἐπεσκέπη ὁ λαός καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ οἰκούντων Ιαβις Γαλααδ

And the people were mustered, and there was not there a man from the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead.

Narrative confirmation (the muster verifies Jabesh's absence)καὶ ἐπεσκέπη ὁ λαός
A formal muster (ἐπεσκέπη, 'was numbered / inspected') confirms the discovery of v. 8: not one inhabitant of Jabesh-gilead was present. The verb ἐπισκέπτομαι here in its core sense 'muster / count' picks up the same root used in v. 3 (ἐπισκεπῆναι, 'be missing'), binding the legal default to the lament over the missing tribe.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπεσκέπηwas musteredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐπισκέπτομαιmain verb (passive: the people were numbered)→ constative aorist (a completed census/muster)ἐπισκέπτομαι: 'visit / inspect / muster / count'; renders פָּקַד; here in the census sense — the assembled people were formally numbered to verify attendance; cognate with ἐπισκεπῆναι ('be missing') in v. 3.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαόςpeopleNominativesubject of ἐπεσκέπηλαός: 'people'; the assembled muster of Israel that is counted to detect the absentees.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the result)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἦν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (existential: 'there was')→ stative imperfect (the standing absence)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'be'; existential 'there was not' — confirms the total absence of any Jabeshite from the muster.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates the absence at the assembly-muster.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of ἦν (with negative: 'not a man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; οὐκ … ἀνήρ = 'not a single man'; the muster yields zero Jabeshites, confirming v. 8.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source: 'from the inhabitants')ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἰκούντωνinhabitantsPres Act Ptcp Gen Masc Pl · οἰκέωsubstantivized participle (genitive: 'of those dwelling')→ customary present participle (settled inhabitants)οἰκέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; the substantivized participle οἱ οἰκοῦντες ('the inhabitants', rendering יֹשְׁבֵי) designates the residents of Jabesh-gilead; the present participle marks habitual dwelling; recurs at vv. 10, 12, 21.
ΙαβιςJabeshindeclinable place-name (genitive of relationship with οἰκούντων)Ιαβις: indeclinable; with Γαλααδ, 'Jabesh-gilead', whose inhabitants are all absent.
ΓαλααδGileadindeclinable (compound place-name)Γαλααδ: indeclinable; the Transjordanian region locating Jabesh.
10

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἐκεῖ ἡ συναγωγὴ δώδεκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν ἀπὸ υἱῶν τῆς δυνάμεως καὶ ἐνετείλαντο αὐτοῖς λέγοντες πορεύεσθε καὶ πατάξατε τοὺς οἰκοῦντας Ιαβις Γαλααδ ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας

And the congregation sent there twelve thousand men from the sons of valor, and they commanded them, saying, 'Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword.'

Narrative action + commissioning speech (the punitive expedition)καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἐκεῖ ἡ συναγωγὴ
The congregation acts on the death-oath: a force of twelve thousand is dispatched to execute the ḥerem on Jabesh-gilead. The Hebraism υἱῶν τῆς δυνάμεως ('sons of valor / mighty men') renders בְּנֵי הֶחָיִל; the formula ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας ('with the edge/mouth of the sword') renders לְפִי־חֶרֶב, the standard idiom for total military destruction.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (sg. with collective subject συναγωγή)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; the congregation dispatches an armed force on an official punitive mission; the same verb opens v. 13.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (to Jabesh-gilead)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; directs the expedition toward Jabesh-gilead.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with συναγωγή)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴcongregationNominativesubject (collective)συναγωγή: 'congregation / gathering / community'; renders עֵדָה; the corporate assembly of Israel acting as a juridical-military body; takes a singular verb (ἀπέστειλεν) then a plural (ἐνετείλαντο) by sense.
δώδεκαtwelveindeclinable numeral (modifying χιλιάδας)δώδεκα: 'twelve'; indeclinable cardinal; the figure twelve thousand (one thousand per tribe?) suggests a representative national force executing the corporate oath.
χιλιάδαςthousandsAccusativeaccusative (direct object of ἀπέστειλεν: 'twelve thousand')χιλιάς: 'a thousand'; renders אֶלֶף; δώδεκα χιλιάδας = 'twelve thousand', the size of the punitive force sent against Jabesh.
ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivegenitive of content (defining χιλιάδας: 'thousand of men')ἀνήρ: 'man'; the genitive specifies the twelve thousand as fighting men.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive/source)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (in Hebraism 'sons of valor')υἱός: 'son'; the idiom υἱοὶ τῆς δυνάμεως ('sons of power/valor') renders בְּנֵי הֶחָיִל — 'sons of' meaning 'men characterized by'; a Hebraism for warriors of proven strength.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with δυνάμεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωςvalor / powerGenitivegenitive of quality (Hebraism: 'sons of valor')δύναμις: 'power / strength / might / army'; renders חַיִל; in υἱοὶ τῆς δυνάμεως it denotes martial valor — these are picked warriors, fit for the ḥerem-execution.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνετείλαντοthey commandedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (commissioning the force)→ constative aoristἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / give orders'; renders צִוָּה; the deponent middle introduces the official military order; the same verb opens v. 20.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative indirect object of ἐνετείλαντο (the warriors)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the command)→ circumstantial participle (Hebraizing citation-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): λέγοντες renders לֵאמֹר, introducing the verbatim military order.
πορεύεσθεgoPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · πορεύομαιimperative (command to march)→ present imperative (general command to set out)πορεύομαι: 'go / journey / proceed'; renders הָלַךְ; the imperative πορεύεσθε launches the expedition; recurs as a command at vv. 20, 21.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πατάξατεstrikeAor Act Impv 2 Pl · πατάσσωimperative (command to strike/kill)→ aorist imperative (decisive military strike)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / kill'; renders נָכָה (Hiphil); the standard verb for military slaughter; with ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας it denotes putting the city to the ban-edge of the sword.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with οἰκοῦντας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκοῦνταςinhabitantsPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Pl · οἰκέωsubstantivized participle (direct object of πατάξατε)→ customary present participleοἰκέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; τοὺς οἰκοῦντας ('the inhabitants', rendering יֹשְׁבֵי) is the object of the slaughter — the residents of Jabesh-gilead.
ΙαβιςJabeshindeclinable place-nameΙαβις: indeclinable; with Γαλααδ, the doomed city.
ΓαλααδGileadindeclinable (compound place-name)Γαλααδ: indeclinable; the Transjordanian locale.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental, in idiom 'edge of the sword')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
στόματιedge / mouthDativedative in idiom (ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας: 'with the edge of the sword')στόμα: 'mouth'; the idiom ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας ('with the mouth/edge of the sword') renders לְפִי־חֶרֶב, a Hebraism in which the sword's cutting edge is its 'mouth' that 'devours'; standard LXX phrase for total slaughter (cf. Josh 6:21).
ῥομφαίαςof the swordGenitivegenitive (defining στόματι: 'edge of the sword')ῥομφαία: 'sword / large broadsword'; renders חֶרֶב; the LXX's frequent word for the slaying-sword (also of divine judgment); the genitive completes the ban-formula.
11

καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσετε πᾶν ἄρσεν καὶ πᾶσαν γυναῖκα εἰδυῖαν κοίτην ἄρσενος ἀναθεματιεῖτε τὰς δὲ παρθένους περιποιήσεσθε καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως

'And this you shall do: every male and every woman who has known the bed of a male you shall devote to destruction; but the virgins you shall preserve alive.' And they did so.

Continued command (the terms of the ban) + narrative complianceκαὶ τοῦτο ποιήσετε
The ḥerem-instruction is specified: all males and all non-virgin women are to be 'devoted to destruction' (ἀναθεματιεῖτε), while the virgins are preserved. The verb ἀναθεματίζω is the LXX's technical rendering of חרם (ban-devotion). The legal idiom εἰδυῖαν κοίτην ἄρσενος ('who has known the bed of a male') defines marital/sexual experience, distinguishing the virgins to be spared. The closing καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως ('and they did so') reports compliance.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (continuing the command)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative object of ποιήσετε (cataphoric: 'this — namely...')οὗτος (n. τοῦτο): the demonstrative points forward to the instructions that follow; τοῦτο ποιήσετε ('this you shall do') is a standard command-introduction (cf. Exod 29:1).
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (binding instruction)ποιέω: 'do'; the future ποιήσετε functions as a command — 'this you shall do' — introducing the specific terms of the ban.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἄρσεν)πᾶς (n. πᾶν): 'every / all'; the totalizing scope of the ban — no male is exempt.
ἄρσενmaleAccusativedirect object of ἀναθεματιεῖτε (first object)ἄρσην (n. ἄρσεν): 'male'; renders זָכָר; the first category devoted to destruction — every male of Jabesh-gilead.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶσανeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying γυναῖκα)πᾶς (fem. acc. πᾶσαν): 'every'; the totalizing scope extends to the non-virgin women.
γυναῖκαwomanAccusativedirect object of ἀναθεματιεῖτε (second object)γυνή: 'woman'; here the married/non-virgin woman, qualified by the following participial phrase.
εἰδυῖανwho has knownPerf Act Ptcp Acc Fem Sg · οἶδαattributive participle (modifying γυναῖκα: 'who has known')→ perfect participle (settled state of sexual experience)οἶδα (perf. ptcp. fem. εἰδυῖα): lit. 'having known'; here in the sexual idiom 'to know the bed of a male' (rendering יֹדַעַת מִשְׁכַּב זָכָר), denoting a woman who has had marital relations — distinguished from the virgins; the perfect marks the abiding fact of her non-virgin status.
κοίτηνbed / lyingAccusativeaccusative object of εἰδυῖαν (idiom: 'the bed of a male')κοίτη: 'bed / lying / sexual intercourse'; renders מִשְׁכָּב; the idiom κοίτη ἄρσενος ('the bed of a male') is a euphemism for sexual relations with a man; the phrase εἰδυῖαν κοίτην ἄρσενος is a precise legal definition of non-virginity.
ἄρσενοςof a maleGenitivegenitive (defining κοίτην: 'bed of a male')ἄρσην (gen. ἄρσενος): 'male'; the genitive completes the idiom 'the bed of a male', specifying heterosexual marital experience.
ἀναθεματιεῖτεyou shall devote to destructionFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀναθεματίζωmain verb (the ban-command; governs both objects above)→ imperatival future (the ḥerem-sanction)ἀναθεματίζω: 'put under the ban / devote to destruction'; the LXX's technical rendering of חרם (Hiphil), the irrevocable devotion of persons/things to YHWH by destruction (cf. Deut 13:16; Josh 6:17); applied here to the males and non-virgin women of Jabesh-gilead.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with παρθένους)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive: contrasting the virgins)δέ: post-positive adversative; marks the exception to the ban — 'but the virgins...' — who are to be spared and preserved.
παρθένουςvirginsAccusativedirect object of περιποιήσεσθεπαρθένος: 'virgin / unmarried young woman'; renders בְּתוּלָה; the virgins, exempt from the ban, become the supply of wives for Benjamin (vv. 12, 14).
περιποιήσεσθεyou shall preserve aliveFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · περιποιέωmain verb (the exception: preservation of the virgins)→ imperatival future (command to spare)περιποιέω: 'preserve / keep alive / acquire for oneself'; the middle περιποιήσεσθε ('keep alive for yourselves') renders חָיָה (Piel, 'let live'); the virgins are spared precisely to serve as wives — preserved 'for yourselves'.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (transition to compliance)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (report of compliance)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the compliance-formula ἐποίησαν οὕτως ('they did so', rendering וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן) reports the warriors' execution of the order; recurs at v. 23.
οὕτωςthus / soadverb of manner (with ἐποίησαν)οὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; renders כֵן; completes the compliance-formula 'they did so'.
12

καὶ εὗρον ἀπὸ οἰκούντων Ιαβις Γαλααδ τετρακοσίας νεάνιδας παρθένους αἵτινες οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ἄνδρα εἰς κοίτην ἄρσενος καὶ ἤνεγκαν αὐτὰς εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν εἰς Σηλων τὴν ἐν γῇ Χανααν

And they found from the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man in the bed of a male, and they brought them to the camp, to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

Narrative result (the four hundred virgins found and brought)καὶ εὗρον
The expedition yields four hundred virgins, defined again by the legal idiom (οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ἄνδρα, 'had not known a man') — but four hundred for six hundred survivors (Judg 20:47) is short, setting up the second remedy of vv. 15–23. They are brought to the camp at Shiloh, located by the narrator 'in the land of Canaan' (a Joshua-era geographical gloss).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εὗρονthey foundAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εὑρίσκωmain verb (discovery of the virgins)→ constative aoristεὑρίσκω: 'find / discover'; renders מָצָא; the warriors 'find' among the survivors the four hundred virgins to be spared as wives.
ἀπὸfrom / amongpreposition + genitive (partitive/source)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἰκούντωνinhabitantsPres Act Ptcp Gen Masc Pl · οἰκέωsubstantivized participle (genitive: 'of the inhabitants')→ customary present participleοἰκέω: 'dwell'; οἱ οἰκοῦντες ('the inhabitants') of Jabesh-gilead, from among whom the virgins are taken.
ΙαβιςJabeshindeclinable place-nameΙαβις: indeclinable; with Γαλααδ, the destroyed city.
ΓαλααδGileadindeclinable (compound place-name)Γαλααδ: indeclinable; the Transjordanian region.
τετρακοσίαςfour hundredAccusativenumeral (modifying νεάνιδας)τετρακόσιοι: 'four hundred'; the number of virgins found — short of the six hundred Benjaminite survivors (Judg 20:47), which necessitates the further remedy at Shiloh.
νεάνιδαςyoung womenAccusativedirect object of εὗροννεᾶνις: 'young woman / maiden'; renders נַעֲרָה; designates a young woman of marriageable age; qualified here by παρθένους as specifically virgins.
παρθένουςvirginsAccusativeattributive/appositional (defining νεάνιδας: 'virgin young women')παρθένος: 'virgin'; renders בְּתוּלָה; specifies the young women as virgins, eligible to be spared and given as wives per the ban-exception of v. 11.
αἵτινεςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἔγνωσαν; qualitative)ὅστις (fem. pl. αἵτινες): the indefinite/qualitative relative 'who (being such as)'; introduces the defining clause establishing their virginity.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἔγνωσαν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἔγνωσανhad knownAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωverb of relative clause (sexual idiom)→ constative aorist (settled fact of virginity)γινώσκω: 'know'; the sexual idiom 'to know a man' (rendering יָדַע אִישׁ) denotes carnal relations; the negated aorist confirms their virginity, qualifying them for the ban-exception.
ἄνδραa manAccusativedirect object of ἔγνωσαν (sexual idiom)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the object of the sexual 'knowing'; 'had not known a man' = virgin.
εἰςin / forpreposition + accusative (in idiom 'into/for the bed of a male')εἰς + accusative: here in the idiom εἰς κοίτην ἄρσενος, reinforcing the sexual sense — 'with respect to the bed of a male'.
κοίτηνbed / lyingAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom)κοίτη: 'bed / sexual intercourse'; the phrase εἰς κοίτην ἄρσενος intensifies the definition of virginity, echoing v. 11.
ἄρσενοςof a maleGenitivegenitive (defining κοίτην)ἄρσην (gen. ἄρσενος): 'male'; completes the legal idiom 'the bed of a male'.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤνεγκανthey broughtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φέρωmain verb (transporting the virgins)→ constative aoristφέρω: 'bear / carry / bring'; renders בּוֹא (Hiphil); the warriors bring the virgins to the Israelite camp at Shiloh.
αὐτὰςthemAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκαν (the virgins)αὐτὰς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with παρεμβολήν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὴνcampAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the encampment)παρεμβολή: 'camp / encampment'; renders מַחֲנֶה; the Israelite war-camp, here located at Shiloh.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (apposition: 'to Shiloh')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΣηλωνShilohobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name, apposition to παρεμβολήν)Σηλων: transliteration of Hebrew שִׁלֹה (Shiloh); indeclinable in the LXX; the central sanctuary-site where the tabernacle stood (Josh 18:1; 1 Sam 1); the camp and the yearly feast (v. 19) are located here.
τὴνwhich (is)Accusativearticle (with ἐν γῇ Χανααν: 'the one in the land of Canaan')the article τήν substantivizes the locative phrase ἐν γῇ Χανααν into an attributive ('the [Shiloh] that is in the land of Canaan'), a narratorial geographical gloss.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῇlandDativedative of place (with Χανααν: 'in the land of Canaan')γῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; γῇ Χανααν ('land of Canaan') situates Shiloh west of the Jordan, distinguishing it from the Transjordanian Jabesh-gilead.
ΧαναανCanaanindeclinable (genitive of relationship: 'of Canaan')Χανααν: transliteration of Hebrew כְּנַעַן (Canaan); indeclinable; the promised-land territory; the gloss 'in the land of Canaan' is a Joshua-era geographical marker locating Shiloh in the heartland.
13

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ καὶ ἐλάλησαν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Βενιαμιν ἐν τῇ πέτρᾳ Ρεμμων καὶ ἐκάλεσαν αὐτοὺς εἰς εἰρήνην

And the whole congregation sent and spoke to the sons of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon, and they called to them in peace.

Narrative action (the peace-overture to Benjamin)καὶ ἀπέστειλεν πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ
The whole congregation now turns from war to reconciliation, sending a peace-overture to the Benjaminite survivors at the rock of Rimmon, their refuge in the war (Judg 20:47). The idiom ἐκάλεσαν αὐτοὺς εἰς εἰρήνην ('called to them in peace') signals the formal end of hostilities and the restoration of fraternal relations.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (sg. with collective subject)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send (a message/embassy)'; renders שָׁלַח; here a diplomatic mission of peace, contrasting with the punitive sending of v. 10.
πᾶσαall / wholeNominativeattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγή)πᾶς (fem. πᾶσα): 'all / whole'; πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγή ('the whole congregation') stresses the unanimous corporate will to reconcile with Benjamin.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with συναγωγή)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴcongregationNominativesubject (collective)συναγωγή: 'congregation / assembly'; renders עֵדָה; the corporate body of Israel acting to restore Benjamin.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλάλησανthey spokeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωmain verb (plural by sense)→ constative aoristλαλέω: 'speak'; renders דִּבֶּר; the congregation communicates terms of peace to the survivors.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (with Βενιαμιν)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Βενιαμιν ('the sons of Benjamin') are the surviving Benjaminite fugitives addressed with the peace-offer.
ΒενιαμινBenjamingenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Benjamin')Βενιαμιν: indeclinable; defines υἱούς ('sons of Benjamin').
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (place: 'at the rock of Rimmon')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with πέτρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέτρᾳrockDativedative object of ἐν (place: the rock-refuge)πέτρα: 'rock / crag'; renders סֶלַע; the rock of Rimmon was the survivors' refuge during the war (Judg 20:47), where 600 men held out four months.
ΡεμμωνRimmonindeclinable place-name (genitive of relationship: 'of Rimmon')Ρεμμων: transliteration of Hebrew רִמּוֹן (Rimmon); indeclinable in the LXX; the rock of Rimmon, the Benjaminite stronghold east of Bethel.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάλεσανthey calledAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καλέωmain verb (proclaiming peace)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon / proclaim'; renders קָרָא; the idiom καλέω εἰς εἰρήνην ('call to/in peace') announces a formal offer of reconciliation (cf. Deut 20:10, 'proclaim peace').
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλεσαν (the Benjaminites)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςin / topreposition + accusative (idiom: 'in/to peace')εἰς + accusative: in the idiom καλέω εἰς εἰρήνην, denoting the goal/terms of the summons — reconciliation, not war.
εἰρήνηνpeaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the terms offered)εἰρήνη: 'peace / wholeness'; renders שָׁלוֹם; the proclamation of peace formally ends the civil war and opens the way for Benjamin's restoration and remarriage.
14

καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Βενιαμιν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ καὶ ἔδωκαν αὐτοῖς οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τὰς γυναῖκας ἃς ἐζωοποίησαν ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων Ιαβις Γαλααδ καὶ ἤρεσεν αὐτοῖς οὕτως

And Benjamin returned to the sons of Israel at that time, and the sons of Israel gave them the women whom they had preserved alive from the daughters of Jabesh-gilead; and it pleased them so.

Narrative resolution (Benjamin's return and the first provision of wives)καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Βενιαμιν
Benjamin returns and receives the four hundred preserved virgins as wives. The relative clause ἃς ἐζωοποίησαν ('whom they had preserved alive') recalls the ban-exception of v. 11 (περιποιήσεσθε). The closing ἤρεσεν αὐτοῖς οὕτως ('it pleased them so') marks partial resolution — but the implicit shortfall (400 for 600) drives the next movement (vv. 15ff).
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (Benjamin's return)→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; Benjamin returns from the rock of Rimmon to rejoin the national community — the reversal of the tribe's near-loss.
ΒενιαμινBenjaminsubject (indeclinable tribal name)Βενιαμιν: indeclinable; the tribe collectively, here the returning survivors.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of return)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (with Ισραηλ)υἱός: 'son'; the wider community of Israel to which Benjamin returns.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; defines υἱούς.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (temporal: 'at that time')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with καιρῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρῷtimeDativedative of time (with ἐκείνῳ: 'at that time')καιρός: 'time / season / appointed moment'; the formula ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ('at that time', rendering בָּעֵת הַהִיא) is a standard LXX narrative time-marker; recurs at v. 24.
ἐκείνῳthatDativedemonstrative (modifying καιρῷ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the remote demonstrative fixes the return at the narrative moment just described.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκανthey gaveAor Act Indic 3 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (giving the wives)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the giving 'of the women' is the marriage-provision — but notably from Jabesh-gilead, not from Israel's own daughters, thereby circumventing the oath of vv. 1, 7, 18.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object of ἔδωκαν (the Benjaminites)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἔδωκαν (with Ισραηλ)υἱός: 'son'; the sons of Israel are the donors of the Jabeshite wives.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; defines υἱοί.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαςwomen / wivesAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκανγυνή: 'woman / wife'; the four hundred preserved virgins now given as wives to Benjamin.
ἃςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐζωοποίησαν)ὅς (fem. pl. ἅς): relative pronoun introducing the defining clause 'whom they had preserved alive'.
ἐζωοποίησανthey had preserved aliveAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ζωοποιέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (with pluperfect nuance: 'had kept alive')ζωοποιέω: 'make alive / keep alive'; renders חָיָה (Piel); recalls the ban-exception of v. 11 (περιποιήσεσθε) — these are the virgins spared from the ḥerem to live as wives.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source/partitive)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with θυγατέρων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρωνdaughtersGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (source: 'from the daughters')θυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the wives come 'from the daughters of Jabesh-gilead' — not from Israel's own daughters, which the oath forbade (v. 7).
ΙαβιςJabeshindeclinable place-nameΙαβις: indeclinable; the destroyed city, source of the spared brides.
ΓαλααδGileadindeclinable (compound place-name)Γαλααδ: indeclinable; the Transjordanian region.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤρεσενit pleasedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀρέσκωmain verb (impersonal: 'it pleased')→ constative aoristἀρέσκω: 'please / be pleasing'; renders יָשַׁר / טוֹב; the idiom ἤρεσεν αὐτοῖς οὕτως ('and so it pleased them' / 'it was pleasing in their eyes') reports satisfaction with the arrangement — yet the unspoken shortfall (400 < 600) leaves the matter unresolved.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative with ἤρεσεν ('pleasing to them')αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (with ἤρεσεν)οὕτως: 'thus / so'; completes the idiom 'it pleased them so', marking provisional satisfaction with the marriage-solution.
15

καὶ ὁ λαὸς παρεκλήθη ἐπὶ τῷ Βενιαμιν ὅτι ἐποίησεν κύριος διακοπὴν ἐν ταῖς φυλαῖς Ισραηλ

And the people were grieved over Benjamin, because the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

Narrative + theological causal clause (renewed grief; YHWH the agent of the breach)καὶ ὁ λαὸς παρεκλήθη ἐπὶ τῷ Βενιαμιν
The verb παρεκλήθη (cf. v. 6) again carries the sense of grieving compassion. The ὅτι-clause is theologically striking: the LORD himself 'made a breach' (διακοπήν) in the tribes — the narrator attributes the near-loss of Benjamin ultimately to divine causality, even though it resulted from human war. The continuing shortfall of wives renews the people's sorrow.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject of παρεκλήθηλαός: 'people'; the nation, still grieving the wound to Benjamin despite the partial remedy.
παρεκλήθηwas grieved / relentedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · παρακαλέωmain verb (renewed compassionate grief)→ ingressive aorist (moved to grief/compassion)παρακαλέω: 'comfort / relent / be moved with compassion'; the passive (cf. v. 6) here denotes the people's renewed grieving over Benjamin's plight — still short of wives — rendering Hebrew נִחַם ('be grieved / moved to pity').
ἐπὶover / concerningpreposition + dative (object of grief: 'over Benjamin')ἐπί + dative: 'over / concerning'; marks Benjamin as the object of the people's grieving compassion.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Βενιαμιν, marking dative)the article τῷ marks the dative case of the indeclinable Βενιαμιν after ἐπί.
ΒενιαμινBenjaminobject of ἐπί (indeclinable; dative marked by τῷ)Βενιαμιν: indeclinable; the grieved-over tribe.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (introducing theological explanation)ὅτι: 'because'; introduces the narrator's causal-theological explanation of the grief — the breach is ultimately YHWH's doing.
ἐποίησενhad madeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of causal clause (YHWH as subject)→ constative aorist (with pluperfect nuance)ποιέω: 'make / do'; renders עָשָׂה; here with YHWH as subject — 'the LORD made a breach' — a theological attribution of the tribal rupture to divine agency, sobering the people.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐποίησεν (divine agent)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the nominative names YHWH as the ultimate author of the breach in the tribes — the narrator sees divine providence behind the civil war's near-destruction of Benjamin.
διακοπὴνa breachAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησενδιακοπή: 'breach / gap / rupture'; renders פֶּרֶץ; the imagery is of a broken-down wall or torn fabric — a gap rent in the unity of the twelve tribes by the near-loss of Benjamin.
ἐνin / amongpreposition + dative (sphere: 'in the tribes')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with φυλαῖς)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλαῖςtribesDativedative object of ἐν (locus of the breach)φυλή: 'tribe'; the breach is 'in the tribes of Israel' — a wound to the whole twelvefold national structure, not merely to Benjamin.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; defines φυλαῖς ('tribes of Israel').
16

καὶ εἶπον οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῆς συναγωγῆς τί ποιήσωμεν τοῖς περισσοῖς εἰς γυναῖκας ὅτι ἠφανίσθη ἀπὸ Βενιαμιν γυνή

And the elders of the congregation said, 'What shall we do for those who remain, regarding wives, since woman has been destroyed from Benjamin?'

Direct deliberative question (the elders renew the wife-problem)καὶ εἶπον οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῆς συναγωγῆς
The elders (πρεσβύτεροι) now formally reopen the deliberation of v. 7 with the same question (τί ποιήσωμεν). The ὅτι-clause states the residual problem: woman (γυνή, collective singular) has been 'wiped out' (ἠφανίσθη) from Benjamin — i.e. the 400 Jabeshite brides do not suffice for the 600 survivors. This sets up the second, more controversial remedy of vv. 19–23.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces the elders' deliberation on the remaining wife-shortage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with πρεσβύτεροι)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβύτεροιeldersNominativesubject (the council of elders)πρεσβύτερος: 'elder / older man'; renders זָקֵן; the elders are the governing council of the congregation, here deliberating the legal-social dilemma of Benjamin's wives.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with συναγωγῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive of relationship (defining πρεσβύτεροι: 'elders of the congregation')συναγωγή: 'congregation / assembly'; renders עֵדָה; οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῆς συναγωγῆς ('the elders of the congregation') are the official leadership body.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ποιήσωμεν)τίς, τί: interrogative 'what?'; reopens the deliberative question of v. 7.
ποιήσωμενshall we doAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ποιέωdeliberative subjunctive (main verb of the question)→ deliberative aorist subjunctive (perplexity restated)ποιέω: 'do'; the deliberative subjunctive 'what shall we do?' echoes v. 7 verbatim, marking the recurrence of the impasse now that the Jabeshite brides have proven insufficient.
τοῖςfor thoseDativearticle (with περισσοῖς; dative of advantage)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περισσοῖςremaining onesDativesubstantivized adjective (dative of advantage: 'for those who remain')περισσός: 'remaining / surplus'; the still-unmarried Benjaminite survivors (200 men beyond the 400 brides); the dative of advantage marks them as those for whom a remedy is sought.
εἰςregarding / forpreposition + accusative (respect: 'as to wives')εἰς + accusative: 'with respect to / for'; specifies the matter — the provision of wives.
γυναῖκαςwivesAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the need)γυνή: 'woman / wife'; the recurring object of the chapter's quest.
ὅτιsince / becausecausal conjunction (introducing the reason)ὅτι: 'because / since'; introduces the explanation of the shortfall — the women of Benjamin have been destroyed.
ἠφανίσθηhas been destroyed / wiped outAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀφανίζωmain verb of causal clause (passive)→ constative aorist (accomplished obliteration)ἀφανίζω: 'make disappear / destroy / wipe out'; renders שָׁמַד / נִשְׁמַד; the passive 'has been wiped out' describes the obliteration of Benjamin's own women in the war (Judg 20:48), which is why outside wives are needed.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from Benjamin')ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒενιαμινBenjaminobject of ἀπό (indeclinable: separation)Βενιαμιν: indeclinable; the tribe from which its women have been destroyed.
γυνήwomanNominativesubject of ἠφανίσθη (collective singular: 'womankind')γυνή: 'woman'; the collective singular 'woman has been wiped out from Benjamin' renders the Hebrew idiom — i.e. there are no longer Benjaminite women available for marriage; a stark statement of the demographic crisis.
17

καὶ εἶπαν κληρονομία διασῳζομένων τῷ Βενιαμιν καὶ οὐκ ἐξαλειφθήσεται φυλὴ ἀπὸ Ισραηλ

And they said, 'There must be an inheritance of those who survive for Benjamin, so that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel.'

Direct speech: the principle of tribal preservationκαὶ εἶπαν κληρονομία διασῳζομένων
The elders articulate the governing principle: there must be an 'inheritance of survivors' (κληρονομία διασῳζομένων) for Benjamin — the surviving remnant must perpetuate the tribe's land and lineage — so that no tribe be 'blotted out' (ἐξαλειφθήσεται) from Israel. The verb ἐξαλείφω ('wipe out / erase') echoes the obliteration-language and frames the entire remedy as the preservation of the twelve-tribe whole.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces the elders' statement of the preservation-principle.
κληρονομίαinheritanceNominativesubject (nominative in verbless clause: 'there is/must be an inheritance')κληρονομία: 'inheritance / possession'; renders נַחֲלָה; here the verbless clause ('an inheritance of survivors for Benjamin') asserts the necessity that the tribe retain its allotted land and posterity; the term recurs at vv. 23, 24.
διασῳζομένωνof those survivingPres Mid/Pass Ptcp Gen Masc Pl · διασῴζωsubstantivized participle (genitive: 'of the survivors')→ present participle (the surviving remnant)διασῴζω: 'save through / preserve / bring safely through'; the participle οἱ διασῳζόμενοι ('the survivors', rendering פְּלֵיטָה / נִמְלָטִים) denotes the Benjaminite remnant rescued from the war; the genitive defines the inheritance as belonging to/for these survivors.
τῷfor theDativearticle (with Βενιαμιν, marking dative of advantage)the article τῷ marks the dative of the indeclinable Βενιαμιν — 'for Benjamin'.
ΒενιαμινBenjamindative of advantage (indeclinable; case marked by τῷ)Βενιαμιν: indeclinable; the tribe for whose preservation the inheritance must be secured.
καὶand / so thatconjunction (consecutive: introducing purpose/result)καί: here with consecutive force ('and so / so that'), linking the inheritance-principle to its purpose — the prevention of a tribe's erasure.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἐξαλειφθήσεται)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐξαλειφθήσεταιshall be blotted outFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαλείφωmain verb (purpose/result: 'so that... not be blotted out')→ predictive future (with negation: averted erasure)ἐξαλείφω: 'wipe out / erase / blot out'; renders מָחָה; the term for total obliteration (cf. erasing a name from a record); the negated future expresses the goal — no tribe shall be erased from the roll of Israel.
φυλὴtribeNominativesubject of ἐξαλειφθήσεταιφυλή: 'tribe'; the threatened entity — Benjamin as one of the twelve, whose erasure must be prevented.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from Israel')ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἀπό (indeclinable: separation)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the twelvefold whole from which no tribe must be erased.
18

ὅτι ἡμεῖς οὐ δυνησόμεθα δοῦναι αὐτοῖς γυναῖκας ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων ἡμῶν ὅτι ὠμόσαμεν ἐν υἱοῖς Ισραηλ λέγοντες ἐπικατάρατος ὁ διδοὺς γυναῖκα τῷ Βενιαμιν

'For we ourselves cannot give them wives from our daughters, because the sons of Israel swore, saying, "Cursed is the one who gives a wife to Benjamin."'

Causal clause restating the legal impasse + cited curse-oathὅτι ἡμεῖς οὐ δυνησόμεθα
The elders restate the binding obstacle: they cannot give their own daughters because of the sworn curse. The cited oath ἐπικατάρατος ὁ διδοὺς γυναῖκα τῷ Βενιαμιν ('cursed is the one who gives a wife to Benjamin') is now in curse-formula form (ἐπικατάρατος, the LXX term for the covenant curse, cf. Deut 27). The articular participle ὁ διδούς ('the one giving') generalizes the curse to anyone who breaks the oath.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (grounding the elders' dilemma)ὅτι: 'because / for'; grounds the need for an indirect remedy — direct giving of daughters is barred.
ἡμεῖςwe ourselvesNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with δυνησόμεθα)ἐγώ (nom. pl. ἡμεῖς): the emphatic 'we ourselves' stresses the self-imposed nature of the constraint (cf. v. 7).
οὐnotnegative adverb (with δυνησόμεθα)οὐ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
δυνησόμεθαwe shall be ableFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb (with infinitive δοῦναι: 'we cannot give')→ predictive future (settled inability under oath)δύναμαι: 'be able / can'; renders יָכֹל; the negated future 'we shall not be able' expresses a moral/legal impossibility — the oath makes giving daughters unthinkable.
δοῦναιto giveAor Act Inf · δίδωμιcomplementary infinitive (with δυνησόμεθα)→ constative aorist infinitiveδίδωμι (aor. inf.): 'give'; the marriage-giving idiom; what the oath forbids.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object of δοῦναι (the Benjaminites)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
γυναῖκαςwivesAccusativedirect object of δοῦναιγυνή: 'wife'; the wives that cannot be supplied from Israel's own daughters.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source/partitive)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with θυγατέρων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρωνdaughtersGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the prohibited source)θυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the daughters of Israel, barred by oath from being given to Benjamin.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θυγατέρων)ἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (introducing the oath as the reason)ὅτι: 'because'; the second ὅτι grounds the inability specifically in the sworn curse-oath.
ὠμόσαμενwe sworeAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ὀμνύωmain verb of causal clause→ constative aorist (the binding oath)ὀμνύω: 'swear'; renders שָׁבַע; recalls the oaths of vv. 1, 7; here the sworn curse against giving wives to Benjamin.
ἐνamong / bypreposition + dative (the swearing community: 'among/by the sons of Israel')ἐν + dative: here 'among the sons of Israel' (the collective body that swore), or possibly attestative ('by/before'); the oath was a corporate national act.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative object of ἐν (with Ισραηλ)υἱός: 'son'; ἐν υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ('among the sons of Israel') identifies the corporate body that bound itself by the oath.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; defines υἱοῖς.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the cited curse)→ circumstantial participle (citation-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): λέγοντες renders לֵאמֹר, introducing the verbatim curse-oath.
ἐπικατάρατοςcursedNominativepredicate adjective (curse-formula: 'cursed is...')ἐπικατάρατος: 'accursed / under a curse'; the LXX's standard term for the covenant curse, rendering אָרוּר (cf. the Deut 27 curse-litany; cited by Paul at Gal 3:10, 13); the curse-formula ἐπικατάρατος ὁ διδούς ('cursed is the one who gives') invokes divine sanction on any oath-breaker.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle διδούς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διδοὺςwho givesPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · δίδωμιsubstantivized participle (subject of the curse: 'the one giving')→ gnomic present participle (whoever gives, at any time)δίδωμι (pres. ptcp.): 'give'; ὁ διδούς ('the one who gives') generalizes the curse to anyone who breaks the oath by giving a wife to Benjamin; the present participle has gnomic, timeless force — 'whoever gives'.
γυναῖκαa wifeAccusativedirect object of διδούςγυνή: 'wife'; the prohibited gift; giving 'a wife to Benjamin' is what triggers the curse.
τῷto theDativearticle (with Βενιαμιν, marking dative)the article τῷ marks the dative of the indeclinable Βενιαμιν ('to Benjamin').
ΒενιαμινBenjamindative recipient (indeclinable; case marked by τῷ)Βενιαμιν: indeclinable; the forbidden recipient of marriage from Israel's daughters.
19

καὶ εἶπαν ἰδοὺ δὴ ἑορτὴ κυρίου ἐν Σηλων ἀφ᾿ ἡμερῶν εἰς ἡμέρας ἥ ἐστιν ἀπὸ βορρᾶ τῆς Βαιθηλ κατ᾿ ἀνατολὰς ἡλίου ἐπὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς ἀναβαινούσης ἀπὸ Βαιθηλ εἰς Συχεμ καὶ ἀπὸ νότου τῆς Λεβωνα

And they said, 'Behold now, there is a feast of the LORD at Shiloh from year to year, which is north of Bethel, toward the rising of the sun, on the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.'

Direct speech: the elders' counsel (the Shiloh feast as the loophole)καὶ εἶπαν ἰδοὺ δὴ ἑορτὴ κυρίου
The elders propose the solution: the yearly feast of the LORD (ἑορτὴ κυρίου) at Shiloh. The presentative ἰδοὺ δή ('behold now') introduces the plan with urgency. The elaborate geographical clause locating Shiloh (north of Bethel, on the Bethel–Shechem road, south of Lebonah) is a precise topographical gloss, characteristic of the narrator's care to anchor the loophole-site exactly. The festival provides an occasion at which Benjaminites may take wives without anyone formally 'giving' them — circumventing the curse of v. 18.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces the elders' proposed remedy.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (drawing attention to the plan)ἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; introduces the proposal with vivid immediacy.
δὴnow / indeedemphatic particle (with ἰδού: urgency)δή: emphatic/hortatory particle 'now / indeed / pray'; ἰδοὺ δή ('behold now') adds urgency and persuasive force to the elders' counsel.
ἑορτὴfeastNominativesubject (verbless clause: 'there is a feast')ἑορτή: 'feast / festival'; renders חַג; the 'feast of the LORD' at Shiloh is an annual pilgrimage festival (perhaps Tabernacles or a vintage feast, given the vineyard-dancing of v. 21).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (defining ἑορτή: 'feast of the LORD')κύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; ἑορτὴ κυρίου ('feast of the LORD') marks it as a sacred pilgrimage to YHWH's sanctuary at Shiloh — the cultic setting incongruously becomes the scene of the wife-seizure.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΣηλωνShilohobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)Σηλων: indeclinable; Shiloh, site of the tabernacle and the yearly festival; the elaborate geographical gloss following locates it precisely.
ἀφ᾿frompreposition + genitive (elided ἀπό; in idiom 'from days to days')ἀπό (elided ἀφ᾿ before rough breathing): in the idiom ἀφ᾿ ἡμερῶν εἰς ἡμέρας ('from days to days') = 'yearly / from year to year', rendering מִיָּמִים יָמִימָה.
ἡμερῶνdaysGenitivegenitive object of ἀφ᾿ (idiom of recurrence)ἡμέρα: 'day'; in the idiom 'from days to days' = annually; the feast recurs yearly, a fixed festal calendar.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'to days')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (completing the recurrence-idiom)ἡμέρα: 'day'; completes the idiom ἀφ᾿ ἡμερῶν εἰς ἡμέρας ('from year to year'), marking the festival's annual recurrence.
ἥwhichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν; introducing geographical gloss)ὅς (fem. ἥ): relative pronoun agreeing with ἑορτή/Σηλων; introduces the topographical description that locates the feast-site precisely.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (in the geographical relative clause)→ stative present (locating the site)εἰμί: 'be'; the present copula locates Shiloh geographically for the reader/hearer.
ἀπὸfrom / on the side ofpreposition + genitive (direction: 'north of')ἀπό: here directional 'on the (north) side of'; the geographical markers orient Shiloh relative to Bethel, the road, and Lebonah.
βορρᾶnorthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (compass direction)βορρᾶς: 'north / north wind'; renders צָפוֹן; ἀπὸ βορρᾶ ('to the north of') places Shiloh north of Bethel.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with Βαιθηλ, marking genitive)the article τῆς marks the genitive of the indeclinable Βαιθηλ ('of Bethel').
ΒαιθηλBethelgenitive (indeclinable; reference point for the direction)Βαιθηλ: indeclinable; Bethel as the southern reference point — Shiloh lies to its north.
κατ᾿towardpreposition + accusative (direction: 'toward the rising')κατά (elided κατ᾿): + accusative 'toward / at'; in κατ᾿ ἀνατολὰς ἡλίου ('toward the sunrise / eastward').
ἀνατολὰςrising / eastAccusativeaccusative object of κατ᾿ (compass direction)ἀνατολή: 'rising (of the sun) / east'; renders מִזְרָח; ἀνατολὰς ἡλίου ('the risings of the sun') = 'the east'; further orients the site.
ἡλίουof the sunGenitivegenitive (defining ἀνατολάς: 'rising of the sun')ἥλιος: 'sun'; ἀνατολαὶ ἡλίου ('sunrise') specifies the eastward orientation.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (location: 'on the road')ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ὁδοῦ)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδοῦroadGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (the highway)ὁδός: 'road / way / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ / מְסִלָּה; the main north–south ridge route from Bethel to Shechem, on which Shiloh lies.
τῆςthe (one)Genitivearticle (with participle ἀναβαινούσης: 'the road that goes up')τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναβαινούσηςgoing upPres Act Ptcp Gen Fem Sg · ἀναβαίνωattributive participle (modifying ὁδοῦ: 'the road going up')→ present participle (the ascending highway)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; the participle describes the road 'that goes up from Bethel to Shechem' — travel into the central hill-country was 'ascent'.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (starting point of the road)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒαιθηλBethelobject of ἀπό (indeclinable: road's origin)Βαιθηλ: indeclinable; the southern terminus of the road described.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination of the road)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΣυχεμShechemobject of εἰς (indeclinable: road's destination)Συχεμ: transliteration of Hebrew שְׁכֶם (Shechem); indeclinable in the LXX; the northern terminus of the road; Shiloh lies between Bethel and Shechem.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the final marker)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπὸfrom / on the side ofpreposition + genitive (direction: 'south of')ἀπό: directional 'to the (south) side of'; the final geographical bearing.
νότουsouthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (compass direction)νότος: 'south / south wind'; renders נֶגֶב / דָּרוֹם; ἀπὸ νότου ('to the south of') places Shiloh south of Lebonah.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with Λεβωνα, marking genitive)the article τῆς marks the genitive of the indeclinable Λεβωνα ('of Lebonah').
ΛεβωναLebonahgenitive (indeclinable; final geographical reference point)Λεβωνα: transliteration of Hebrew לְבוֹנָה (Lebonah); indeclinable; a town north of Shiloh, completing the precise topographical fix of the feast-site.
20

καὶ ἐνετείλαντο τοῖς υἱοῖς Βενιαμιν λέγοντες πορεύεσθε ἐνεδρεύσατε ἐν τοῖς ἀμπελῶσιν

And they commanded the sons of Benjamin, saying, 'Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards.'

Commissioning speech (the ambush-instruction)καὶ ἐνετείλαντο τοῖς υἱοῖς Βενιαμιν
The elders now formally instruct the Benjaminites (ἐνετείλαντο, cf. v. 10) in the plan: go and lie in ambush (ἐνεδρεύσατε) in the vineyards of Shiloh. The vineyard setting confirms the festal context (likely a vintage celebration with dancing, v. 21). The asyndetic imperatival sequence πορεύεσθε ἐνεδρεύσατε ('go, ambush') conveys the brisk practicality of the directive.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνετείλαντοthey commandedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (commissioning the Benjaminites)→ constative aoristἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / give orders'; renders צִוָּה; the elders issue the operational instruction (cf. v. 10).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object of ἐνετείλαντο (with Βενιαμιν)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Βενιαμιν ('the sons of Benjamin') are the recipients of the ambush-instruction.
ΒενιαμινBenjamingenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Βενιαμιν: indeclinable; defines υἱοῖς.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the command)→ circumstantial participle (citation-marker)λέγω (ptcp.): λέγοντες renders לֵאמֹר, introducing the verbatim instruction.
πορεύεσθεgoPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · πορεύομαιimperative (command to set out)→ present imperative (general command)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; renders הָלַךְ; launches the ambush-mission; cf. vv. 10, 21.
ἐνεδρεύσατεlie in ambushAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐνεδρεύωimperative (asyndetic with πορεύεσθε: the ambush-command)→ aorist imperative (decisive lying-in-wait)ἐνεδρεύω: 'lie in ambush / lie in wait'; renders אָרַב; the same tactic used militarily against Benjamin earlier (Judg 20:29) is now turned to the abduction of brides — the war-craft repurposed for the marriage-stratagem.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place: 'in the vineyards')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἀμπελῶσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀμπελῶσινvineyardsDativedative object of ἐν (the ambush-site)ἀμπελών: 'vineyard'; renders כֶּרֶם; the vineyards surrounding Shiloh, where the festal dancing takes place; the setting confirms a vintage-festival; recurs at v. 21.
21

καὶ ὄψεσθε καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐὰν ἐξέλθωσιν αἱ θυγατέρες τῶν οἰκούντων Σηλων χορεύειν ἐν τοῖς χοροῖς καὶ ἐξελεύσεσθε ἐκ τῶν ἀμπελώνων καὶ ἁρπάσατε ἑαυτοῖς ἀνὴρ γυναῖκα ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων Σηλων καὶ πορεύεσθε εἰς γῆν Βενιαμιν

'And you shall watch, and behold, when the daughters of the inhabitants of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then you shall come out from the vineyards and seize for yourselves each man a wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.'

Continued command (the seizure-instruction in detail)καὶ ὄψεσθε καὶ ἰδοὺ
The plan is detailed: watch (ὄψεσθε), and when the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance, rush from the vineyards and each man seize (ἁρπάσατε) a wife. The verb ἁρπάζω ('seize / snatch by force') is unambiguous abduction; the distributive ἀνὴρ γυναῖκα ('each man a woman') matches one bride per survivor. This stratagem legally evades the curse of v. 18: no father 'gives' a daughter — she is taken.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὄψεσθεyou shall watchFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (imperatival future: 'watch / keep watching')→ imperatival future (command to keep watch)ὁράω: 'see / watch'; the future ὄψεσθε functions imperativally — 'you shall watch / keep your eyes open' for the moment the dancers emerge.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (anticipating the dancers' appearance)ἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; dramatizes the anticipated moment of the dancers coming out.
ἐὰνwhen / ifconditional-temporal conjunction (with subjunctive ἐξέλθωσιν)ἐάν: 'if / when(ever)'; with the subjunctive it marks the contingent moment ('when/if they come out') triggering the seizure.
ἐξέλθωσινcome outAor Act Subj 3 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιverb of the temporal-conditional clause→ aorist subjunctive (the triggering event)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; renders יָצָא; the daughters 'coming out' to dance is the signal for the ambush to spring.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with θυγατέρες)αἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativesubject of ἐξέλθωσινθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the young women of Shiloh, the targets of the seizure; the irony is sharp — daughters not 'given' (v. 18) but taken.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with οἰκούντων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκούντωνinhabitantsPres Act Ptcp Gen Masc Pl · οἰκέωsubstantivized participle (genitive: 'of the inhabitants')→ customary present participleοἰκέω: 'dwell'; οἱ οἰκοῦντες Σηλων ('the inhabitants of Shiloh') are the fathers/families whose daughters will be taken.
ΣηλωνShilohindeclinable place-name (genitive of relationship with οἰκούντων)Σηλων: indeclinable; the festal town whose daughters are the brides-to-be.
χορεύεινto dancePres Act Inf · χορεύωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐξέλθωσιν: 'come out to dance')→ present infinitive (purpose of the coming-out)χορεύω: 'dance (in a chorus/ring)'; the daughters come out 'to dance', a festal custom (cf. Judg 11:34; 1 Sam 18:6); the cognate noun χοροῖς follows.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere: 'in the dances')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with χοροῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χοροῖςdancesDativedative object of ἐν (the festal dances)χορός: 'dance / round-dance / chorus'; renders מְחֹלָה; the cognate of χορεύω; the ring-dances of the festival, the occasion of the abduction.
καὶthen / andconjunction (apodosis-marker after the temporal clause)καί: here marks the apodosis ('then') following the ἐάν-clause — when the dancers emerge, then the ambushers act.
ἐξελεύσεσθεyou shall come outFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (imperatival future: 'come out')→ imperatival future (command to break cover)ἐξέρχομαι: 'come out'; the future ἐξελεύσεσθε functions imperativally — the ambushers are to burst from the vineyards at the signal.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source: 'out of the vineyards')ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀμπελώνων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀμπελώνωνvineyardsGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (the ambush-cover)ἀμπελών: 'vineyard'; the hiding-place from which the Benjaminites spring (cf. v. 20).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἁρπάσατεseizeAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἁρπάζωimperative (the seizure-command)→ aorist imperative (decisive snatching)ἁρπάζω: 'seize / snatch / carry off by force'; renders חָטַף; unambiguous abduction — each man is to grab a bride; the verb recurs at v. 23 (ἥρπασαν), reporting compliance; the forcible 'seizing' is precisely what allows Israel to claim no daughter was 'given' (v. 18).
ἑαυτοῖςfor yourselvesDativereflexive dative of advantage (with ἁρπάσατε)ἑαυτοῦ (dat. pl. ἑαυτοῖς): reflexive 'for yourselves'; the dative of advantage stresses that each man seizes a bride for his own marriage.
ἀνὴρeach manNominativedistributive nominative in apposition to the subject ('each man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; the distributive ἀνὴρ γυναῖκα ('each man a woman'), a Hebraism (אִישׁ אִשָּׁה), specifies one bride per Benjaminite — matching the 200 remaining survivors to 200 dancers.
γυναῖκαa wifeAccusativedirect object of ἁρπάσατεγυνή: 'woman / wife'; the seized bride; the chapter's leitmotif reaches its resolution in the act of seizure.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source/partitive)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with θυγατέρων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρωνdaughtersGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (source of the brides)θυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the daughters of Shiloh, the source of wives by seizure rather than by gift.
ΣηλωνShilohindeclinable place-name (genitive of relationship)Σηλων: indeclinable; the festal town.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πορεύεσθεgoPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · πορεύομαιimperative (command to depart with the brides)→ present imperativeπορεύομαι: 'go'; the final command — having seized the brides, return to Benjaminite territory.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (with Βενιαμιν: 'land of Benjamin')γῆ: 'land'; renders אֶרֶץ; the territory of Benjamin, where the survivors will resettle with their new wives.
ΒενιαμινBenjamingenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Benjamin')Βενιαμιν: indeclinable; defines γῆν ('land of Benjamin').
22

καὶ ἔσται ὅταν ἔλθωσιν οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν ἢ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν κρίνεσθαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐροῦμεν αὐτοῖς ἔλεος ποιήσατε ἡμῖν αὐτάς ὅτι οὐκ ἐλάβομεν ἀνὴρ γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ παρατάξει ὅτι οὐχ ὑμεῖς ἐδώκατε αὐτοῖς ὡς καιρὸς πλημμελήσατε

'And it shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to bring a complaint against you, then we will say to them, "Show us favor with them, because we did not take each man his wife in the battle; for you did not give them to them, lest now you incur guilt."'

Contingency provision (the elders' promise to placate the fathers)καὶ ἔσται ὅταν ἔλθωσιν
The elders anticipate the legal objection: when fathers or brothers come to litigate (κρίνεσθαι), the elders will intercede. The reasoning is a clever legal fiction: the Benjaminites did not 'take' wives in war (so no spoil-claim), and the fathers did not 'give' (so the curse-oath of v. 18 is not violated) — therefore no one bears guilt. The verb πλημμελήσατε ('you would incur guilt') closes the argument: passivity preserves their innocence under oath. The verse is textually difficult; the rendering follows the Rahlfs text.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (with ἔσται: temporal formula)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of temporal formula (καὶ ἔσται = 'and it shall come to pass')→ predictive future (anticipating a future contingency)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the formula καὶ ἔσται ('and it shall be / come to pass') renders Hebrew וְהָיָה, a future temporal connector setting up the contingency clause.
ὅτανwhentemporal conjunction (with subjunctive ἔλθωσιν)ὅταν: 'when(ever)'; with the subjunctive marks the anticipated contingency — the fathers' complaint.
ἔλθωσινcomeAor Act Subj 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιverb of the temporal clause→ aorist subjunctive (the anticipated arrival)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the fathers/brothers coming to litigate is the foreseen objection the elders prepare to meet.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with πατέρες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρεςfathersNominativesubject of ἔλθωσινπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; the fathers of the seized daughters, the natural plaintiffs.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying πατέρες)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἢordisjunctive conjunctionἤ: 'or'; introduces the alternative plaintiffs — brothers as well as fathers.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἀδελφοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὶbrothersNominativesubject of ἔλθωσιν (alternative to πατέρες)ἀδελφός: 'brother'; renders אָח; the brothers as alternative kinsman-plaintiffs with marriage-rights over the daughters.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἀδελφοί)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
κρίνεσθαιto litigate / bring complaintPres Mid/Pass Inf · κρίνωinfinitive of purpose (with ἔλθωσιν: 'come to litigate')→ present infinitive (purpose of coming)κρίνω (mid.): 'go to law / contend / bring a legal complaint'; renders רִיב; the middle κρίνεσθαι πρός ('litigate against') denotes a formal legal protest — the elders foresee the fathers seeking redress.
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (legal opposition: 'against you')πρός + accusative: here 'against' in the legal sense — the complaint directed at the elders/Israel.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the defendants)σύ (acc. pl. ὑμᾶς): 'you'; the addressees (the elders/congregation) against whom the fathers might litigate.
καὶthenconjunction (apodosis-marker)καί: marks the apodosis — when they come, 'then we will say'.
ἐροῦμενwe will sayFut Act Indic 1 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the elders' promised response)→ predictive future (the planned intercession)λέγω (fut. ἐροῦμεν): 'say / tell'; the elders promise their future plea on the Benjaminites' behalf.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object of ἐροῦμεν (the plaintiff fathers)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἔλεοςfavor / mercyAccusativedirect object of ποιήσατε (idiom: 'show favor')ἔλεος: 'mercy / kindness / favor'; renders חֶסֶד / חָנַן; the idiom ἔλεος ποιήσατε ('do/show mercy/favor') appeals to the fathers' goodwill — grant the brides graciously rather than press the complaint.
ποιήσατεshow / doAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ποιέωimperative (the plea to the fathers)→ aorist imperative (entreaty)ποιέω: 'do / make'; in ἔλεος ποιήσατε ('show favor') the imperative is an entreaty addressed to the fathers — be gracious in the matter of the daughters.
ἡμῖνus / for usDativedative of advantage (with ποιήσατε: 'show favor to us')ἐγώ (dat. pl. ἡμῖν): 'to/for us'; the elders include themselves in the appeal — grant this favor for our sake (and Benjamin's).
αὐτάςthemAccusativeaccusative (the daughters, object of the implied granting)αὐτός (fem. acc. pl. αὐτάς): 'them'; refers to the seized daughters — the object of the requested favor ('grant them to us').
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (the first legal ground)ὅτι: 'because'; introduces the first plea-ground — the brides were not taken as ordinary war-captives.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἐλάβομεν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐλάβομενwe tookAor Act Indic 1 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb of causal clause→ constative aorist (with negation)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; the plea is that 'we did not take each his wife in the battle' — i.e. these are not war-spoil seized in combat, removing one legal objection; the distributive ἀνὴρ γυναῖκα follows.
ἀνὴρeach manNominativedistributive nominative ('each man', loosely in apposition)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the distributive idiom ἀνὴρ γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ('each man his wife') again renders אִישׁ אִשְׁתּוֹ.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of ἐλάβομενγυνή: 'wife'; the wife each Benjaminite obtained — but, the plea insists, not by war-capture.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying γυναῖκα)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (circumstance: 'in the battle')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with παρατάξει)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρατάξειbattle / battle-lineDativedative object of ἐν (the war-context being denied)παράταξις: 'battle-array / battle / line of battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה / מַעֲרָכָה; the plea denies that the wives were taken as captives 'in the battle' — distinguishing this seizure from ordinary spoils of war.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (the second legal ground)ὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the second, decisive plea-ground — the fathers did not 'give', so the oath is intact.
οὐχnotnegative adverb (with ἐδώκατε; before rough breathing)οὐχ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with ἐδώκατε)σύ (nom. pl. ὑμεῖς): emphatic 'you (yourselves)'; stresses that the fathers themselves did not perform the prohibited 'giving' — so the curse of v. 18 does not fall on them.
ἐδώκατεyou gaveAor Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb of the second causal clause→ constative aorist (with negation)δίδωμι: 'give'; the key legal point — 'you did not give them' — means the fathers are technically innocent of breaking the oath, since the daughters were seized, not given; the loophole on which the whole stratagem rests.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object of ἐδώκατε (the Benjaminites)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὡςas / lest nowconjunction/particle (difficult: 'as it were' / introducing the final clause)ὡς: 'as / when / so that'; the clause ὡς καιρὸς πλημμελήσατε is textually obscure; perhaps 'as the occasion (requires)' or 'otherwise, in due time, you would incur guilt' — the sense being that only by this passive acquiescence do the fathers avoid oath-guilt.
καιρὸςtime / occasionNominativenominative (in the obscure final clause: 'as the time/occasion')καιρός: 'time / occasion / right moment'; in the difficult phrase ὡς καιρός it may mean 'as the occasion (demands)' or function adverbially ('at this time'); the clause's exact sense is uncertain in the textual tradition.
πλημμελήσατεyou would incur guiltAor Act Impv 2 Pl · πλημμελέωverb (difficult: imperatival or with conditional/result force)→ aorist (in an obscure construction; sense: incurring guilt)πλημμελέω: 'commit a fault / err / incur guilt / offend'; renders אָשַׁם; the verb denotes incurring ritual/legal guilt; the clause warns that, but for this arrangement, the fathers would have transgressed — i.e. their non-action keeps them guiltless; the morphology (impv. form in a result-sense) reflects the difficulty of the Rahlfs text here.
23

καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως οἱ υἱοὶ Βενιαμιν καὶ ἔλαβον γυναῖκας εἰς ἀριθμὸν αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῶν χορευουσῶν ὧν ἥρπασαν καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτῶν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν τὰς πόλεις καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐν αὐταῖς

And the sons of Benjamin did so, and took wives according to their number from the women who were dancing, whom they seized; and they went and returned to their inheritance, and rebuilt the cities and dwelt in them.

Narrative compliance + resolution (Benjamin restored)καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως οἱ υἱοὶ Βενιαμιν
The compliance-formula ἐποίησαν οὕτως ('they did so', cf. v. 11) reports the plan's execution: the Benjaminites take wives 'according to their number' (εἰς ἀριθμὸν αὐτῶν) from the dancers they seized, then return, rebuild their cities, and settle. The four verbs of resolution (πορεύομαι, ὑποστρέφω, οἰκοδομέω, καθίζω) reverse the tribe's near-extinction: from refugees at the rock to settled inhabitants rebuilding their inheritance.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησανdidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (compliance-formula)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the compliance-formula ἐποίησαν οὕτως ('they did so', rendering וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן) reports the Benjaminites' execution of the elders' plan (cf. v. 11).
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (with ἐποίησαν)οὕτως: 'thus / so'; renders כֵן; completes the compliance-formula.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (with Βενιαμιν)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Βενιαμιν ('the sons of Benjamin'), the survivors who carry out the stratagem.
ΒενιαμινBenjamingenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Βενιαμιν: indeclinable; defines υἱοί.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβονthey tookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (taking wives)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; 'to take a wife' is the marriage idiom; here the brides are taken by seizure, completing the remedy for the wife-shortage.
γυναῖκαςwivesAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβονγυνή: 'wife'; the seized brides, now married; the chapter's central quest reaches fulfilment.
εἰςaccording topreposition + accusative (measure: 'according to their number')εἰς + accusative: here measure/correspondence — 'to the number of them', i.e. one bride per unmarried survivor.
ἀριθμὸνnumberAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (measure)ἀριθμός: 'number / count'; renders מִסְפָּר; εἰς ἀριθμὸν αὐτῶν ('according to their number') specifies that the brides taken matched the number of wifeless men (the 200 not provided for from Jabesh).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἀριθμόν)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source/partitive)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with χορευουσῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χορευουσῶνwomen dancingPres Act Ptcp Gen Fem Pl · χορεύωsubstantivized participle (genitive: 'of the dancing women')→ present participle (the dancers in mid-dance)χορεύω: 'dance'; the substantivized participle αἱ χορεύουσαι ('the dancing women') designates the daughters of Shiloh caught in the dance and seized; the present participle vividly captures them mid-action.
ὧνwhomGenitiverelative pronoun (object of ἥρπασαν; attracted to genitive)ὅς (gen. pl. ὧν): relative pronoun, genitive by attraction to its antecedent χορευουσῶν; 'whom they seized'.
ἥρπασανthey seizedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἁρπάζωverb of relative clause (the act of seizure)→ constative aoristἁρπάζω: 'seize / snatch / carry off'; renders חָטַף; reports the execution of the seizure-command of v. 21 (ἁρπάσατε) — the brides were forcibly taken from the dance.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθησανthey wentAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (departure)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / journey'; renders הָלַךְ; the Benjaminites depart with their brides toward home.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὑπέστρεψανreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὑποστρέφωmain verb (return to the inheritance)→ constative aoristὑποστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the survivors return to the territory of Benjamin, reversing their exile at the rock of Rimmon.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κληρονομίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κληρονομίανinheritanceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the tribal allotment)κληρονομία: 'inheritance / possession'; renders נַחֲלָה; the tribal land-allotment of Benjamin, now repopulated — fulfilling the principle of v. 17 (κληρονομία διασῳζομένων).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying κληρονομίαν)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ᾠκοδόμησανthey rebuiltAor Act Indic 3 Pl · οἰκοδομέωmain verb (rebuilding the cities)→ constative aoristοἰκοδομέω: 'build / rebuild'; renders בָּנָה; the cities devastated in the war (Judg 20:48) are rebuilt — the same verb as the altar-building of v. 4, here signaling tribal restoration and re-settlement.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with πόλεις)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of ᾠκοδόμησανπόλις: 'city / town'; renders עִיר; the Benjaminite towns, rebuilt from the war's destruction.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάθισανthey dweltAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καθίζωmain verb (settling in the cities)→ constative aorist (resultant settlement)καθίζω: 'sit / settle / dwell'; renders יָשַׁב; here 'settled / dwelt in them' — the final note of restoration: Benjamin is again an established, inhabited tribe (contrast v. 2, where the same verb described mourning).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place: 'in them')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐταῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (the rebuilt cities)αὐτός (fem. dat. pl. αὐταῖς): 'them'; refers to the rebuilt πόλεις, where Benjamin now dwells securely.
24

καὶ περιεπάτησαν ἐκεῖθεν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἀνὴρ εἰς φυλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς συγγένειαν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξῆλθον ἐκεῖθεν ἀνὴρ εἰς κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ

And the sons of Israel departed from there at that time, each man to his tribe and to his clan; and they went out from there, each man to his inheritance.

Narrative dispersal (the assembly disbands; the crisis closed)καὶ περιεπάτησαν ἐκεῖθεν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ
With Benjamin restored, the national assembly disperses: each man returns to his tribe, clan, and inheritance. The distributive ἀνήρ ('each man') and the threefold goal (tribe / clan / inheritance) signal the orderly re-establishment of normal tribal life. This verse closes the Benjaminite narrative (chs. 19–21); v. 25 then appends the book's final editorial refrain.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
περιεπάτησανthey departed / went their wayAor Act Indic 3 Pl · περιπατέωmain verb (the dispersal of the assembly)→ constative aoristπεριπατέω: 'walk about / go one's way'; here 'they went off / departed' (rendering הָלַךְ); the assembled tribes disperse from Shiloh/Bethel back to their homes, the crisis resolved.
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source of departure)ἐκεῖθεν: 'from there / thence'; marks the departure from the place of assembly; repeated below for emphasis on the dispersal.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (with Ισραηλ)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the national assembly now disbanding.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; defines υἱοί.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (temporal: 'at that time')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with καιρῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρῷtimeDativedative of time (with ἐκείνῳ)καιρός: 'time'; ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ('at that time', rendering בָּעֵת הַהִיא) is the standard time-marker (cf. v. 14).
ἐκείνῳthatDativedemonstrative (modifying καιρῷ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; fixes the dispersal at the narrative moment of Benjamin's restoration.
ἀνὴρeach manNominativedistributive nominative ('each man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; the distributive 'each man (to his own...)', rendering אִישׁ; emphasizes the orderly return of every Israelite to his own tribal place.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
φυλὴνtribeAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (first destination)φυλή: 'tribe'; each man returns 'to his tribe' — the basic unit of Israelite social-territorial order.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying φυλήν)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (second destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
συγγένειανclan / kindredAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (second destination)συγγένεια: 'kinship / clan / family'; renders מִשְׁפָּחָה; the clan is the sub-tribal kinship unit; 'tribe and clan' together denote the full social structure to which each man returns.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying συγγένειαν)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξῆλθονthey went outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (departure restated)→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / depart'; renders יָצָא; restates the dispersal ('they went out from there'), reinforcing the orderly return of each to his inheritance.
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source)ἐκεῖθεν: 'from there'; the repeated adverb underlines the complete dispersal from the assembly-site.
ἀνὴρeach manNominativedistributive nominative ('each man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; the distributive idiom repeated — each man to his own inheritance.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κληρονομίανinheritanceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (each man's allotment)κληρονομία: 'inheritance / possession'; renders נַחֲלָה; each man's own tribal land-allotment — the resolution restores the whole nation to settled, ordered life on its inheritance.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying κληρονομίαν)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
25

ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ισραηλ ἀνὴρ τὸ εὐθὲς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐποίει

Now in those days there was no king in Israel; each man did what was right in his own eyes.

Closing editorial refrain (the conclusion of the Book of Judges)ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις
This is the final verse of the entire Book of Judges. The refrain οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ισραηλ ('there was no king in Israel') recurs at 17:6; 18:1; 19:1, but only here and at 17:6 is it joined to the second half — ἀνὴρ τὸ εὐθὲς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐποίει ('each man did what was right in his own eyes'). As the book's closing line, it renders no resolution to the chaos just narrated but a theological verdict on the whole pre-monarchic era: the absence of covenant kingship produced a society of autonomous self-direction. The δέ shifts from narrative to editorial summary; the line points forward, by its very lack, to the monarchy that 1–2 Samuel will introduce.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal: 'in those days')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
δὲnowtransitional particle (post-positive: shift to editorial summary)δέ: post-positive particle; here marks the shift from the narrative proper to the book's concluding editorial refrain — a closing authorial reflection rather than a new event.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with ἡμέραις)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time (with ἐκείναις: 'in those days')ἡμέρα: 'day'; the formula ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ('in those days', rendering בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם) is the refrain's temporal frame, designating the whole pre-monarchic period of the judges.
ἐκείναιςthoseDativedemonstrative (modifying ἡμέραις)ἐκεῖνος: 'those'; the remote demonstrative looks back over the whole era narrated in Judges, viewing it from the standpoint of the (monarchic) editor.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἦν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (existential: 'there was no')→ stative imperfect (the abiding condition of the era)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'be'; existential 'there was no king' — the imperfect denotes the continuous state of the whole period; the refrain's first clause.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of ἦν (existential)βασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the absent institution; the lack of covenant kingship is the refrain's diagnosis of the era's lawlessness and the implicit anticipation of the monarchy (1–2 Samuel).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place: 'in Israel')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐν (indeclinable place/people-name)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the nation lacking a king during the period of the judges.
ἀνὴρeach manNominativedistributive subject of ἐποίει ('each man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; the distributive 'each man' (rendering אִישׁ); the refrain's second clause portrays a society of autonomous individuals, each his own authority — the antithesis of covenant order under a king.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with substantivized εὐθές)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐθὲςwhat is right / straightAccusativesubstantivized adjective (direct object of ἐποίει: 'the right thing')εὐθύς (n. εὐθές): 'straight / right / upright'; renders יָשָׁר; τὸ εὐθές ('that which is right') is here the standard each man sets for himself — not God's law but his own judgment; the tragic irony is that 'right in his own eyes' is precisely what covenant law warns against (cf. Deut 12:8).
ἐνώπιονin the sight of / beforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism: 'in his own eyes')ἐνώπιον: 'before / in the sight of'; Hebraism rendering בְּעֵינֵי ('in the eyes of'); ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ('in his own sight/eyes') locates moral authority in the individual's own subjective judgment — the keynote of the book's closing verdict.
αὐτοῦhis ownGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον (reflexive: 'his own eyes')αὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his (own)'; the reflexive sense ('in his own eyes') stresses the self-referential autonomy that the refrain condemns.
ἐποίειdid / kept doingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the refrain's second clause; imperfect of customary action)→ customary/iterative imperfect (habitual conduct of the whole era)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the customary imperfect ἐποίει ('each kept doing / used to do') depicts the habitual, era-wide pattern of self-willed conduct; as the final word of the Book of Judges, it leaves the reader with an unresolved indictment that cries out, by its very form, for the kingship to come.