And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.

JUDGES 21:13KJV
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Judges 21:13 (KJV)

What does Judges 21:13 mean?

Judges 21:13 describes how the entire Israelite assembly sent messengers to speak with the surviving men of the tribe of Benjamin, who were hiding at the rock of Rimmon, inviting them to return peacefully. The verse shows an effort to restore relations after a violent conflict between the other tribes of Israel and Benjamin.

The setting is after a brutal civil war, where most of the tribe of Benjamin had been wiped out because of a crime committed in their territory. The "whole congregation" refers to the other Israelite tribes, who now regret the near destruction of Benjamin. The men of Benjamin are hiding at a place called the rock Rimmon, and the leaders of Israel reach out to them, seeking to make peace and bring them back into the community.

The Hebrew behind Judges 21:13

  • "congregation" (עֵדָה, edah): This word means the whole assembly or community, emphasizing that the action was taken by all the tribes together, not just a few leaders.
  • "peaceably" (שָׁלוֹם, shalom): This word means peace, wholeness, or well-being. The invitation was not just a call to return, but a genuine offer of reconciliation and restoration of peaceful relations.

Why Judges 21:13 matters

  • Judges 21:13 helps clarify that the other tribes of Israel did not want the tribe of Benjamin to be completely destroyed, showing a shift from judgment to mercy.
  • The verse highlights the importance of reconciliation after conflict, as the Israelites actively seek to restore fellowship with those they had fought against.
  • This moment sets up the events that follow, where the Israelites try to find wives for the surviving Benjaminites, further showing their desire to preserve every tribe within Israel.

Where else these words appear

“Rimmon” Hebrew H7417 · used in 13 verses

  • Joshua 15:32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:
  • Judges 20:47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.
  • 2 Kings 5:18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.

“rock” Hebrew H5553 · used in 54 verses

  • Numbers 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
  • 2 Chronicles 25:12 And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.
  • Isaiah 31:9 And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

“congregation” Hebrew H5712 · used in 140 verses

  • Exodus 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
  • Numbers 15:24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
  • Numbers 31:13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.