The Israelite leaders continue with the same reasoning they used in the previous episode. They had vowed to not give their daughters in marriage to the surviving Benjaminites (verse 21.1), so they must find wives for them in some other way.

Yet we cannot give them wives of our daughters is literally “And we, we cannot give them wives from our daughters.” This sentence continues the quote of the previous verse. The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered Yet is followed by an emphatic pronoun for we, so it introduces a contrast here. Other possible ways to begin this verse are “But we can’t…” (Contemporary English Version), “But as for us, we cannot…,” and even “However, it is out of the question that we….” For give them wives of our daughters, see verse 1.12 and verse 21.1. This whole sentence may be rendered “But we cannot allow our daughters to marry them.”

For the people of Israel had sworn: The quote of the Israelite leaders has ended as the first person reference switches to third person. The narrator comes back to the former explanation. However, many versions seem to assume the Israelites’ quote continues here (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible). ver CEVver*, for example, says “We made a sacred promise not to do that, and if we break our promise, we will be under our own curse.” However, this change does not seem warranted. Though repetitive, this verse gives the precise content of the curse accompanying their oath.

The Hebrew particle ki rendered For introduces why the Israelites could not allow their daughters to marry the Benjaminites. The people of Israel is literally “the sons [or, children] of Israel” (see verse 1.1). For had sworn, see verse 21.1.

Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin: This is a direct quote of the Israelites’ actual curse. The passive verb Cursed be implies that Yahweh will curse the person who does such a thing, so in some languages we might say “May Yahweh curse [or, punish] the one who….” For the practice of cursing, see the comments on verse 5.23. He who gives correctly renders the Hebrew participle here, which may also be translated “anyone who gives” (New Revised Standard Version) or “the person who gives.” Gives a wife to may be expressed as “marries his daughter to” or “gives his daughter to marry.” The translation should reflect the marriage practices of the Israelites and not those of the target culture. In ancient Israel young women did not choose their own marriage partners.

Translation models for this verse are:

• However, for our part, we cannot possibly allow our daughters to marry them.” In effect, the people had sworn, “May Yahweh punish anyone who lets his daughter marry a Benjaminite.”

• But there is no way we can give our daughters to become wives of the Benjaminites.” Indeed, the people had made a solemn vow, saying, “Cursed is the person who gives his daughter in marriage to a Benjaminite.”

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .