Judges 21:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The inhabitants of Jabesh in Gilead faced dire consequences, as all of Israel had made a solemn vow: any who refused to join in the retribution against wrongdoing would face death. In that conflict, twelve thousand warriors fell, leading to the demise of all the men and women, leaving only the young women who had not known the marriage bed alive. After the destruction of Jabesh, a mere four hundred virgins survived.