King James Version

What Does Judges 21:10 Mean?

Judges 21:10 in the King James Version says “And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest , and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the i...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Judges 21:10 · KJV

Context

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. hath lain: Heb. knoweth the lying with 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. young: Heb. young women virgins

Read Judges 21 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children. The phrase "twelve thousand men of the valiantest" (ish gibbor chayil, אִישׁ גִּבּוֹר חַיִל, "mighty men of valor") indicates elite warriors—the same term used of Gideon (6:12) and David's warriors (2 Samuel 23). The command "smite... with the edge of the sword" (hakkot... l'fi-charev, הַכּוֹת... לְפִי־חָרֶב) is standard herem warfare language used against Canaanite cities (Joshua 6:21, 8:24). Shockingly, the targets include "the women and the children" (nashim v'taf, נָשִׁים וָטָף), showing Israel applied total warfare against fellow Israelites over assembly non-attendance.

The moral horror is staggering: Israel sent elite troops to massacre an entire Israelite city—men, women, children—to obtain virgin wives for Benjamin while technically keeping their rash oaths. From a Reformed perspective, this demonstrates how zeal without wisdom, legalism without mercy, and procedure without justice produce compounding evil. They were willing to destroy one city to prevent one tribe's extinction, solving oath-created problems through violence rather than humility, confession, and seeking legitimate release from imprudent vows. The passage illustrates Paul's warning that the letter kills but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6)—Israel kept the letter of their oaths through actions that utterly violated God's character and law. Their actions reveal hearts hardened by repeated violence, moral reasoning corrupted by pride, and religion divorced from righteousness.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The dispatch of 12,000 warriors (1,000 per participating tribe) indicates this was a coordinated intertribal military operation with official sanction. The number parallels later military expeditions (Numbers 31:4-5 sent 12,000 against Midian). The use of herem warfare language—total destruction except for specified exceptions—was designed for Canaanite conquest to prevent idolatry from corrupting Israel (Deuteronomy 20:16-18). Applying such warfare to fellow Israelites over civil violations demonstrates profound moral confusion.

Jabesh-gilead would have been a walled city with typical ancient Near Eastern population of several thousand. The massacre of entire families except virgin women meant hundreds or thousands killed. The survivors—400 virgins—were taken as spoils of war and given to Benjamin's 600 survivors, leaving 200 Benjamites still needing wives (verse 12, 14). The brutality seems incomprehensible until we remember the entire Judges period is bracketed by the refrain "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (17:6, 21:25). Without godly leadership, prophetic voice, or humble wisdom-seeking, Israel descended into tribal violence justified by religious language and procedural correctness, showing how far God's people can fall when abandoning dependence on His wisdom and mercy.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does applying procedures designed for one context (Canaanite conquest) to inappropriate situations (punishing Israelite non-attendance) produce moral horror?
  2. What does Israel's willingness to massacre an entire city rather than admit their oaths were rash reveal about pride and legalism?
  3. How can religious language and procedural correctness mask actions that fundamentally violate God's character and values?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ1 of 22

“sent”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

שָׁ֣ם2 of 22
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

הָֽעֵדָ֗ה3 of 22

“And the congregation”

H5712

a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)

שְׁנֵים4 of 22

“thither twelve”

H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

עָשָׂ֥ר5 of 22
H6240

ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth

אֶ֛לֶף6 of 22

“thousand”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

אִ֖ישׁ7 of 22

“men”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

מִבְּנֵ֣י8 of 22

“of the valiantest”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

הֶחָ֑יִל9 of 22
H2428

probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

וַיְצַוּ֨וּ10 of 22

“and commanded”

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

אוֹתָ֜ם11 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

לֵאמֹ֗ר12 of 22

“them saying”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לְ֠כוּ13 of 22
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

וְהִכִּיתֶ֞ם14 of 22

“and smite”

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

אֶת15 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יֽוֹשְׁבֵ֨י16 of 22

“the inhabitants”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

יָבֵ֤שׁ17 of 22

“of Jabeshgilead”

H3003

jobesh, the name of an israelite and of a place in palestine

גִּלְעָד֙18 of 22
H1568

gilad, a region east of the jordan; also the name of three israelites

לְפִי19 of 22

“with the edge”

H6310

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

חֶ֔רֶב20 of 22

“of the sword”

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים21 of 22

“with the women”

H802

a woman

וְהַטָּֽף׃22 of 22

“and the children”

H2945

a family (mostly used collectively in the singular)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 21:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 21:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 5:231 Samuel 11:7Judges 21:51 Samuel 15:3Joshua 7:24Deuteronomy 13:15

Places in This Verse

Jabesh-gileadSettlement · Modern: Tell el Maqlub · 32.40°N, 35.68°E20 verses across 4 books
View all places in Judges 21 →

Test Your Knowledge

Judges 21 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJudges Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Judges 21 with CommentaryAll Judges ChaptersComplete Judges QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes