King James Version

What Does Judges 21:19 Mean?

Judges 21:19 in the King James Version says “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, o...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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. yearly: Heb. from year to year on the east: or, toward the sunrising of the highway: or, on the highway”

Judges 21:19 · KJV

Context

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. yearly: Heb. from year to year on the east: or, toward the sunrising of the highway: or, on the highway

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.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah. This verse introduces the scheme's setting: a feast of the LORD in Shiloh (chag-YHWH beShiloh, חַג־יְהוָה בְּשִׁלוֹ). The phrase "feast of the LORD" likely refers to the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-43), celebrated with joy, dancing, and vineyard festivities. Shiloh was the location of the tabernacle (Joshua 18:1), making it the central worship site for all Israel. The detailed geographical markers—north of Beth-el... east of the highway... south of Lebonah—provide precise directions, suggesting either historical accuracy or emphasizing the premeditated nature of the plan.

The horror of this verse is its casual conjunction of sacred worship and planned kidnapping. Israel would exploit a worship festival—celebrating God's covenant faithfulness and provision—to abduct women for Benjamin. From a Reformed perspective, this represents the nadir of spiritual corruption in Judges: using God's ordained worship as cover for violence against innocent women. This warns against the danger of maintaining religious externals while hearts are far from God (Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 15:8-9).

The irony is profound: they scrupulously avoided "giving" daughters (preserving their oath) while orchestrating mass kidnapping during a feast celebrating God's deliverance and provision. Technical obedience to the letter while violating the spirit epitomizes the legalism Jesus condemned. The juxtaposition of "feast of the LORD" with kidnapping scheme demonstrates how far Israel had fallen—religion divorced from righteousness produces only hypocrisy.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Shiloh served as Israel's central worship site during the Judges and early monarchy period (approximately 1400-1050 BC). Archaeological excavations at Khirbet Seilun have uncovered remains consistent with significant religious activity during this period, including storage jars, cooking installations, and large quantities of animal bones suggesting sacrificial feasts. The site's destruction (referenced in Jeremiah 7:12-14, 26:6) likely occurred during the Philistine conflicts of 1 Samuel 4.

The annual feast with dancing in the vineyards was part of Israel's agricultural calendar celebrations. The Feast of Tabernacles, harvest festival celebrating God's provision and commemorating wilderness wandering, included joyful celebration with dancing and singing (Psalm 149:3, 150:4). Young women's participation in public festival dancing was culturally appropriate within Israel's worship context. The elders' exploitation of this innocent celebration for kidnapping reveals the moral bankruptcy characterizing the end of Judges.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do we sometimes maintain religious practices while planning or tolerating actions that completely contradict God's character?
  2. What does the exploitation of worship festivals for sinful purposes teach about the danger of form without substance in religious life?
  3. In what ways does contemporary culture use Christian language or settings to justify or disguise morally problematic actions?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וַיֹּֽאמְר֡וּ1 of 20

“Then they said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הִנֵּה֩2 of 20
H2009

lo!

חַג3 of 20

“Behold there is a feast”

H2282

a festival, or a victim therefor

יְהוָ֨ה4 of 20

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בְּשִׁל֜וֹ5 of 20

“in Shiloh”

H7887

shiloh, a place in palestine

יָמִ֗ימָה6 of 20

“yearly”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

יָמִ֗ימָה7 of 20

“yearly”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

אֲשֶׁ֞ר8 of 20
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

מִצְּפ֤וֹנָה9 of 20

“in a place which is on the north side”

H6828

properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)

לְבֵֽית10 of 20
H0
אֵ֖ל11 of 20

“from Bethel”

H1008

beth-el, a place in palestine

מִזְרְחָ֣ה12 of 20

“on the east side”

H4217

sunrise, i.e., the east

הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ13 of 20
H8121

the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement

לִ֨מְסִלָּ֔ה14 of 20

“of the highway”

H4546

a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase

הָֽעֹלָ֥ה15 of 20

“that goeth up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

מִבֵּֽית16 of 20
H0
אֵ֖ל17 of 20

“from Bethel”

H1008

beth-el, a place in palestine

שְׁכֶ֑מָה18 of 20

“to Shechem”

H7927

shekem, a place in palestine

וּמִנֶּ֖גֶב19 of 20

“and on the south”

H5045

the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)

לִלְבוֹנָֽה׃20 of 20

“of Lebonah”

H3829

lebonah, a place in palestine

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 21:19 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 21:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 28:16Psalms 81:3Leviticus 23:6Joshua 18:1Deuteronomy 16:10John 7:2

Places in This Verse

Bethel 1Settlement · Modern: Beitin · 31.92°N, 35.24°E69 verses across 12 books
LebonahSettlement · Modern: Khan el Lubban · 32.06°N, 35.25°E1 verse across 1 book
ShechemSettlement · Modern: Tell Balatah · 32.21°N, 35.28°E45 verses across 10 books
ShilohSettlement · Modern: Khirbet Seilun · 32.06°N, 35.29°E37 verses across 8 books
View all places in Judges 21 →

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