Judges 21:19 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →They recalled the yearly feast of the LORD held at Shiloh, carefully describing its location.
What Does Judges 21:19 Mean?
A way around the oath presents itself: the yearly feast of the LORD held at Shiloh. The verse maps the place with unusual care, north of Bethel, east of the highway from Bethel to Shechem, south of Lebonah. At this festival the young women of Shiloh would come out to dance, and the elders see in this an opening for their plan to provide wives for Benjamin.
It is a sobering thing that a sacred feast of the LORD becomes the setting for a human contrivance. The very gathering meant to honor God is turned to Israel's own purposes. The detailed geography roots the story in real places where worship was kept yet hearts had wandered. The reader is reminded how easily holy things can be bent to serve our schemes, and how greatly God's people need their worship and their will to be made one again.
Judges 21:19 in the Original Language
chag (חַג), 'feast' -- a pilgrimage festival of the LORD marked by gathering, rejoicing, and worship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 21:19
What does Judges 21:19 mean?
They recalled the yearly feast of the LORD held at Shiloh, carefully describing its location.