Judges 21:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The weeping stirred the soul's torment and deepened affection; rage gave way to wisdom. Envoys were dispatched to the six hundred warriors of Benjamin, who had been concealed among the cliffs for four months amid the desolation of the wilderness—this was the very obstacle that restrained the attackers. These envoys conveyed their sorrow over their shared loss, as some mourned their fellow countrymen, while others lamented their relatives and allies. Yet the lineage of Benjamin had not been completely extinguished; they reached a mutual decision to uphold the oath, ensuring that one tribe, as a part of the greater community, would not face annihilation.