Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin in marriage.” (v.1)
After the sin of Gibeah and the ensuing civil war, the surviving men of Benjamin found themselves with no wives. Furthermore, all of Israel had taken an oath not to give their daughters to Benjamin in marriage (because of the despicable abuse suffered by an Israelite women in Gibeah). With no wives, the tribe of Benjamin would soon die out and the Twelve Tribes of Israel would be forever reduced.
Amid the gross evils of this time, the people of Israel were very tenacious of their vows, which had been ratified in the presence of God, and under the solemn sanctions of the Tabernacle. Because they had sworn not to give their daughters in marriage to Benjamin, they had to devise a plan to obtain wives for the six hundred who had escaped massacre, that the tribe should not become extinct.
Sin often creates messy situations, and this is a prime example. Israel could only keep their foolish oath if they allowed the surviving men of Benjamin to abduct the girls of Shiloh (v.20-21), for then their fathers hadn't really given them away to marry (v.22), resulting in Benjamin’s survival. Rather than go through this charade, they should have simply confessed their sin of making a foolish oath and done the right thing instead of trying to make two wrongs equal a right.
However, despite Israel’s sin, rebellion, idolatry, chaos, and ethical lapses, God allowed His people to survive. His grace and mercy are endless, even in our darkest times.
The Truth: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
