1 Samuel 3

There are consequences if you don't.

WEEK   10                                             1 Samuel 3

MONDAY  Reflections

There is much to see in this chapter: The rarity of God's vision for God's people, The call of Samuel, God upholding Samuel's words are all great topics. However, I am caught by God's judgment on the house of Eli.

God was going to judge Eli's house not because Eli was bad. Eli as far as we can tell was a good man and a good leader for Israel. Eli wasn't a good leader of his house. Eli allowed his sons to do evil. Eli was high priest and could have thrown his sons out of the tabernacle. Eli thou refused to deal with the rebellion against God going on under his authority. God's judgment was coming not because of the disobedience but because Eli didn't do anything about it.

Was Eli afraid he would lose the love of his sons? We don't know. Was he afraid they would be without a career or future? Again, we don't know. What we do know is Eli refused to even try to do something. His sons might have repented if he had confronted them, but he didn't.

This isn't saying that today you need to throw your kids out on the street if they aren't obeying God. What I am saying is if you're in church leadership and allow your family to be in church leadership when you know they are living in rebellion to God, then you aren't being faithful to God or the people you are supposed to serve.

This reminds me of the quote, "All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."

1Sa 3:1-21

(1)  And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

(2)  And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

(3)  And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

(4)  That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

(5)  And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

(6)  And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

(7)  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

(8)  And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

(9)  Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

(10)  And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

(11)  And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

(12)  In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

(13)  For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

(14)  And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

(15)  And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

(16)  Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.

(17)  And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

(18)  And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

(19)  And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

(20)  And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.

(21)  And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

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Jeremiah 19

WEEK  9                                           Jeremiah 19

SATURDAY  Reflections

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the king’s horses and all the king’s men

Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

 

There may be some argument about the origin of this nursery rhyme, but there is nothing unclear about who is doing the breaking of Judah. God called Jeremiah to take a pot from the potter's house and break it when he prophesied in front of all of the chief elders of Judah. Just as Humpy Dumpty couldn't be fixed by all of the king's horses and men so no one was going to be able to put Judah back together or prevent their breaking.

 

Why? Because they had chosen to rebel against God. Yes, God would do the breaking but it wasn't his doing, it was the result of Judah's rebellion.

 

Side note: No person could repair Judah after God's breaking, but God would still redeem a people for himself.

Jer 19:1-15
(1)  Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests;
(2)  And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,
(3)  And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
(4)  Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents;
(5)  They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
(6)  Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.
(7)  And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.
(8)  And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.
(9)  And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.
(10)  Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee,
(11)  And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.
(12)  Thus will I do unto this place, saith the LORD, and to the inhabitants thereof, and even make this city as Tophet:
(13)  And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.
(14)  Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD'S house; and said to all the people,
(15)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

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1 Samuel 2

WEEK  9                                            1 Samuel 2

FRIDAY  Reflections

It is easy to focus on Samuel in this chapter, he is after all the main character in the beginning of this book and the first major prophet to the kings of Israel. However, I want to revisit Hannah. After receiving the promised child, Hannah fulfilled her vow and gave the child to God. She could have done as many do, go back on their promise. This child, after all, might have been her only hope for future security if something happened to Elkanah. Yet she didn't.

God on seeing her faithfulness, not only gave her another son but three sons and two daughters. It reminds me when we give to God, we do not give in vain.

1Sa 2:1-36
(1)  And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
(2)  There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
(3)  Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
(4)  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
(5)  They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
(6)  The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
(7)  The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
(8)  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.
(9)  He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
(10)  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
(11)  And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
(12)  Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
(13)  And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
(14)  And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
(15)  Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
(16)  And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
(17)  Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
(18)  But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
(19)  Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
(20)  And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
(21)  And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
(22)  Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
(23)  And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
(24)  Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress.
(25)  If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
(26)  And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
(27)  And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
(28)  And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
(29)  Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
(30)  Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
(31)  Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
(32)  And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
(33)  And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
(34)  And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
(35)  And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
(36)  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

1 Corinthians 16

WEEK  9                                       1 Corinthians 16

THURSDAY  Reflections

"Greet one another with a holy kiss" (1 Cor 16:20b). I think the keyword here is holy not kiss. In some cultures it is perfectly acceptable to give a kiss as a greeting, I wasn't brought up in those cultures and I'm very uncomfortable with it. Regardless, I don't believe this is causing me to point out that the emphasis here is on holy greetings not on the method.

In our greetings to one another ought to be holy be they a kiss, a handshake, or a polite nod. If we are greeting people for any other reason perhaps we shouldn't. This may confuse some of you, but consider the person who introduces themselves to someone just to get some personal recognition or as a means to manipulate (it happens), this isn't a holy greeting. This type of greeting is self-serving and not the holy greetings which should take place in the church.

To put it another way, our dealings with other people should be holy, from the greetings to the end. 

 1Co 16:1-24
(1)  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
(2)  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
(3)  And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
(4)  And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.
(5)  Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
(6)  And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.
(7)  For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
(8)  But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
(9)  For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
(10)  Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
(11)  Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.
(12)  As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.
(13)  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
(14)  Let all your things be done with charity.
(15)  I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
(16)  That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
(17)  I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
(18)  For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
(19)  The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
(20)  All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
(21)  The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
(22)  If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
(23)  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
(24)  My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and Timotheus.

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Psalm 77

WEEK   9                                             Psalm 77

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

What do you do when you have cried out to God and he seems not to have answered? According to this psalm, the thing to do is to remember what God has done in the past. For Israel, it was to remember God's work at the Exodus. For Christians today, I would say remember the cross. Remember what Jesus has done to save you and redeem you. In this remembering comes strength and comfort.


Psa 77:1-20
(1)  To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
(2)  In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
(3)  I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
(4)  Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
(5)  I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
(6)  I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
(7)  Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
(8)  Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
(9)  Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
(10)  And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
(11)  I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
(12)  I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
(13)  Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
(14)  Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
(15)  Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
(16)  The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
(17)  The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
(18)  The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
(19)  Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
(20)  Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

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1 Samuel 1

An empty stroller-A broken heart

WEEK  9                                              1 Samuel 1

TUESDAY  Reflections

Not all men are clueless to the feelings of their wives but Elkanah was. Hannah wanted a child and what Elkanah offered was his love. His needs for children had been met and his future was secure. With children, Elkanah would be taken care of in his old age and in the continuation of his family line. For Hannah, there was the hope that Elkanah's children would take care of her if something happens to him, but no guarantee. There was also the stigma associated in that culture for a woman who is unable to bear children. This along with the animosity of her husband's other wife (clearly another example of why having more than one wife is a bad idea) made Hannah's life difficult. Besides all of this was the heart of a woman who wanted to have a child.

 

My wife and I went over 12 years of marriage before our firstborn came into our lives. I can tell you from personal experience that Elkanah's words though well-meaning were hurtful. It would be like offering a hungry person water. Yes, water is important and vital for survival but it doesn't take the place of food. No matter how much Elkanah loved Hannah, he could never be a child that she bore.

 

Keep this in mind if you are dealing with a childless woman or couple. Yes, there are many who don't want children, but for those who do it is painful. My best advice is to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15) and leave off the advice and the platitudes.

1Sa 1:1-28
(1)  Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
(2)  And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
(3)  And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
(4)  And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
(5)  But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
(6)  And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
(7)  And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
(8)  Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
(9)  So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
(10)  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
(11)  And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
(12)  And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
(13)  Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
(14)  And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
(15)  And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
(16)  Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
(17)  Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
(18)  And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
(19)  And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
(20)  Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
(21)  And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
(22)  But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
(23)  And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
(24)  And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
(25)  And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
(26)  And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
(27)  For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
(28)  Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

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Judges 21

WEEK  9                                          Judges 21

MONDAY  Reflections

As the book of Judges ends, the tribes of Israel try to find a way to restore the decimated tribe of Benjamin.  The story is a little strange for our day, but it was perfectly acceptable for the day they lived. There is a sense that the people of Israel did what they need to do to wipe the evil out of the land but now went on to try and help those they defeated rebuild. This is what the allies tried to do at the end of WW2 and the results were that Germany and Japan became allies. It is a good lesson, but ultimately not the one I am looking at.

 

The final verse in Judges seems to explain what the problem was; they didn’t have a king and everyone did what they thought was right. God had given Israel the Law and way to live but what we see in Judges is everyone doing their own thing. The idea hinted at is they needed a leader, a king to make the difference and they were partially correct. They and we need a king, but that king wasn’t ultimately Saul, David, or Solomon. The king that Israel and the world need is Jesus, the king of kings. We need that ultimate leader, a king because when we do what is right in our own eyes there is only trouble and Judges prove that.  

Jdg 21:1-25
(1)  Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
(2)  And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;
(3)  And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?
(4)  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
(5)  And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
(6)  And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
(7)  How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?
(8)  And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
(9)  For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.
(10)  And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.
(11)  And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
(12)  And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
(13)  And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.
(14)  And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.
(15)  And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
(16)  Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
(17)  And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
(18)  Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
(19)  Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
(20)  Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;
(21)  And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
(22)  And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.
(23)  And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.
(24)  And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.
(25)  In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.