Judges 21:17

*“They said, ‘There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe will not be blotted out from Israel.’”* (v.17)

In this passage, the Israelites, having fought a brutal civil war sparked by the grievous crime at Gibeah, come face-to-face with the near annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin. The horrific incident in Gibeah involved the abuse and death of a Levite’s concubine, resulting in a unified Israel taking up arms against Benjamin, nearly destroying an entire tribe in the process. Yet here, the surviving tribes realize the gravity of completely losing one of the twelve tribes; they speak these words to ensure that Benjamin will still have an inheritance and not vanish from among the people citeturn0file3.

*“There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin”* underscores the communal responsibility Israel bore toward every tribe. Even though the Benjamites had been severely judged for their role in the atrocity at Gibeah, the rest of Israel recognized that their covenant identity as one nation under God could not be fulfilled if an entire tribe ceased to exist. By seeking wives and property for the remaining Benjamites, they attempted to preserve the tribe’s lineage and fulfill God’s design for all the descendants of Jacob/Israel to remain intact.

This verse also highlights the Israelites’ deeper understanding that within God’s covenant community, restoration is possible beyond judgment. Though Benjamin had sinned grievously and suffered severe consequences, God’s grace and the people’s renewed concern opened a pathway to move forward, ultimately enabling the tribe’s survival and continuation in Israel’s story.

This verse reminds us that even in the face of deep brokenness, God’s people are called to preserve and restore one another, trusting that His plan for unity and redemption extends to every member of His covenant family.