Judges 21:20

The elders of Israel are attempting to find a way to preserve the tribe of Benjamin following a devastating civil war that nearly wiped them out. In their urgency to provide wives for the remaining men of Benjamin, *“And they commanded the sons of Benjamin, saying, ‘Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,’”* (Judges 21:20). This direction was part of a larger plan to sustain one of the twelve tribes of Israel so it would not be lost to history. The vineyards served as a hidden vantage point where the Benjaminites could carry out the elders’ orders without being immediately discovered.

The directive took place near the region of Shiloh, an ancient city in the land of Ephraim, located about 20 miles (roughly 32 kilometers) north of Jerusalem. Shiloh was significant in the period of the Judges because it was where the tabernacle of the Lord stood for a time, making it a spiritual center for the nation (Joshua 18:1, NASB-95). By positioning themselves among the vineyards, the sons of Benjamin could secretly observe and seize the daughters of Shiloh, ensuring their tribe’s continuity without openly defying earlier oaths made by the Israelites.

Historically, Benjamin was the youngest son of the patriarch Jacob, placing the tribe’s ancestry around the 18th century BC. By the time of the Judges—estimated to be around 1375-1050 BC—the Benjaminites had settled in the central region of Canaan. Their near extermination, recorded in the preceding chapters, highlights both the severity of Israel’s internal strife and the steadfast resolve to maintain the unity of tribes. This passage also foreshadows themes of restoration and deliverance found later in Scripture, culminating in the redemptive work of Christ, who welcomed all, including the least and lost, into His kingdom (Matthew 9:12-13, NASB-95).

This verse shows Israel’s creative and urgent resolve to preserve the tribe of Benjamin.