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MAKING OF OATHS

Text: Judges 21
16 April 2012

MAKING OF OATHS Judges 21:1-12

1. Two oaths may be noted

a) No one should give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife Judges 21:1
A special curse was uttered on anyone who gave a daughter to marry a Benjamite

“Cursed be the one who gives a wife to Benjamin.” Judges 21:18b

b) Anyone who did not support their attack of Benjamin would be put to death

“He shall be put to death” Judges 21:5

2. Assessment of these oaths

a) No Biblical precedent

b) Oaths poorly understood

c) Rashly uttered

ATTACK ON JABESH GILEAD

1. Jabesh Gilead had not sent support for the attack on Benjamin Judges 21:8

2. This city was attacked by the army of Israel Judges 21:10-11

3. Only virgins were preserved while others were killed Judges 21:10-11

4. Four hundred unmarried young women were found and offered to Benjamin Judges 21:12

5. But this number was not sufficient for all the men of Benjamin Judges 21:13-14

A FINAL SOLUTION OFFERED

1. Feast of the Lord in Shiloh Judges 21:19

2. Daughters of Shiloh dancing during the feast Judges 21:20

3. Encouragement to snatch girls of their choice to be their wives Judges 21:21

4. Dealing with complaints from fathers and brothers Judges 21:22

5. Benjamin snatched women to be their wives Judges 21:23

6. Rebuilding of the cities of Benjamin Judges 21:24

A SAD CONCLUDING STATEMENT OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25

1. No king

a) No leadership on the national level

b) No law and order for the nation of Israel

2. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes

a) Tribal law at best

b) Every tribe had its own ideas as to what was right