Judges 21:15The people grieved for Benjamin, because that Yahweh had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
The setting
Bethel assembly, Israel ~1200 BC. The eleven tribes realize they've nearly destroyed their brother tribe Benjamin through civil war, creating a permanent 'breach' in the nation.
The emotion here: recording national shame and sorrow with somber gravity
The original word
pereṣ (פֶּרֶץ) — a violent breach, gap torn in a wall that can't easily be repaired
Why it matters
This civil war killed more Israelites than any foreign invasion up to this point
Read with care
What most readers miss in Judges 21:15
They blamed God for the breach, but their own vow created the problem — they swore not to give Benjamin wives
Common misconceptionPeople think God caused this breach, but it was Israel's extreme reaction and unwise vows that nearly destroyed Benjamin — God's judgment was on their civil war, not their unity.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Judges 21:15
Bible Genome reading
Judges 21:15 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Judges 21:15 comes from the book of Judges, written during the judges period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include grief, divine judgment. Notable phrases: people grieved; breach in the tribes.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Judges 21:15 mean to you, today?
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