Israel's civil war

Following a horror Bible story of the levels of 'Friday the 13th' published here yesterday, here is a sequel of events that ended in a rather interesting way. As for today, ignore the gruelling act of brutality against women, though we are led through a cruel civil war of ancient times. At the end, somehow women were involved.

Israel took to arms against the Benjamites. Benjamites chose 700 left-handed soldiers, ‘every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss' according to the Holy Bible. But, however, they eventually lost the war. All women and children were killed and all of Israel was reconciled. However, they had vowed and sworn that no one would marry their daughters to Benjamites, but the Benjamites had to propagate somehow.

It was decided to attack and kill all Jabesh-gilead citizens and save the virgins only for Benjamites. The operation was successful but the numbers could not tally. Shiloh, north of Bethel and south of Lebanon had an annual virgin feast, probably like the South African or Swaziland Reed dances of virgins.

Judges 21 v 20: ‘Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards; v 21: And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.’

Sounds like proper hunting tactics, but I guess these things work sometimes. God had compassion for the land despite all the sins and appalling acts. He can forgive you all your sins if you sincerely repent and call upon him and never going back that old life.