FOR A SECOND TIME THE ISRAELITES GRIEVE FOR BENJAMIN. It is interesting that in this last scene the elders of Israel play a critical role. The only other time that the elders of the entire nation of Israel95 are mentioned in this book is 2:7, where it describes the elders under whom the Israelites served Yahweh. In contrast, the elders in 21:15–25 are the devisers of a shameful plan to supply the Benjamites with the necessary women to make up the shortage from Jabesh Gilead.
