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.

JUDGES 21:19KJV
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Judges 21:19 (KJV)

What does Judges 21:19 mean?

Judges 21:19 describes how the leaders of Israel point out the location and timing of an annual festival dedicated to the LORD in Shiloh, giving detailed directions to where it takes place. This information sets up a plan for the remaining men of the tribe of Benjamin to find wives among the women attending the feast.

The verse is spoken by the Israelite leaders as they discuss how to help the tribe of Benjamin recover after a civil war left them with too few women. The leaders specify Shiloh as the site of the feast, noting its position relative to nearby towns—north of Bethel, east of the main road from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah. This careful description shows their intent to guide the Benjaminites to the right place at the right time.

The Hebrew behind Judges 21:19

  • "feast" (חַג, ḥag): This word refers to a religious festival, often involving communal celebration and worship. Its use here highlights that the event is a major, recognized gathering, not just a local or private affair.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): The festival is dedicated to the God of Israel, emphasizing its religious significance and the expectation that many Israelites would attend.
  • "yearly" (יָמִים, yāmîm): The phrase is literally "from days to days," which is a Hebrew way of saying "every year" or "annually," underscoring the regularity and predictability of the event.
  • "highway" (מְסִלָּה, mesillah): This word means a main road or thoroughfare, suggesting the location is accessible and well-known, which would make it easier for the Benjaminites to find the feast.

Why Judges 21:19 matters

  • The verse clarifies the practical steps the Israelite leaders took to help the tribe of Benjamin survive, showing their concern for restoring a lost tribe.
  • The detailed directions reveal how important it was to ensure the Benjaminites could find the festival without confusion, highlighting the seriousness of their situation.
  • By connecting the plan to a festival of the LORD, the verse shows how religious events were woven into the social and communal life of ancient Israel, sometimes even being used to solve difficult problems.

Where else these words appear

“highway” Hebrew H4546 · used in 26 verses

  • Numbers 20:19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
  • 2 Kings 18:17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.
  • Isaiah 19:23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.

“Shiloh” Hebrew H7887 · used in 30 verses

  • Joshua 18:1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.
  • Judges 21:12 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.
  • 1 Samuel 14:3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

“Shechem” Hebrew H7927 · used in 54 verses

  • Genesis 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
  • Joshua 17:7 And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.
  • Judges 9:28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

“feast” Hebrew H2282 · used in 55 verses

  • Exodus 10:9 And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD.
  • Deuteronomy 16:14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
  • Psalms 81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.