Judges 21:8

THE DESTRUCTION OF JABESH-GILEAD (Judges 21:8-12)

"And they said, What one is there, of the tribes of Israel that came not up unto Jehovah to Mizpah? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-Gilead to the assembly. For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead there. And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying; Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones. And this is the thing that ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man. And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead four hundred young virgins that had not known man by lying with him; and brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan."

"There came none ... from Jabesh-Gilead" (Judges 21:8). The reason for this failure is not far to seek. "Jabesh-Gilead was related by blood to Gibeah (1 Chronicles 7:12-15))."[3] It was a very costly mistake which they made. "This is the first mention of Jabesh-Gilead in the Bible,"[4] but it is mentioned twice, later.

(1) In 1 Samuel 11, it is stated that King Saul responded to their appeal and rescued them from an invasion of the Ammonites; and

(2) When King Saul was slain, the citizens of Jabesh-Gilead took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Bethsban and buried them at Jabesh (1 Samuel 31:11-13), for which gallant and courageous action, David thanked them (2 Samuel 2:5). We are not told how the city was perpetuated following their brutal depopulation reported here, but the fact of their survival is evident. Perhaps, a large number of them escaped.

Matthew Henry deplored the fact of Israel's willingness to destroy Gibeah and all who supported them, asking:

"Why did they not then send a detachment of troops to root out the Jebusites from Jerusalem who had been responsible for the Levite's being forced to go to Gibeah in the first place?"[5]

"Four hundred young virgins that had not known man" (Judges 21:12). None of the commentators I have consulted mentions anything concerning the basis of this selection. Did it follow a cruel and inhuman physical inspection, or just how was it done? Perhaps it is a merciful omission that we are not told.

"And they brought them unto the camp in Shiloh" (Judges 21:12). By this time, the temporary location of the ark of the covenant in Bethel was terminated. "Shiloh was the Israelite sanctuary par excellence in the central highlands prior to its destruction circa 150 B.C."[6]

"In the land of Canaan" (Judges 21:12). Some scholars seem to be puzzled by this phrase, seeing that everyone in Israel certainly knew where Shiloh was located. Hervey thought that, "It was inserted to contrast it with Jabesh in the land of Gilead."[7] Gilead, of course, was east of Jordan.