This verse continues the instructions of the Israelite leaders to the Benjaminites. There is much repetition here: the phrase the daughters of Shiloh and the verb come out each occur twice.

And watch is literally “and you will see and behold.” The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered and introduces the next step in what the Israelites are telling the Benjaminites to do. The Hebrew verb translated watch is not an imperative, but a form meaning “you will see.” However, like Revised Standard Version, most other versions translate it as an imperative, for example, “Keep watch” (Revised English Bible) or “Wait there” (Contemporary English Version). The Hebrew word hinneh (“behold”) comes after this verb, but Revised Standard Version and most other versions omit it. However, this word marks an important step in the narrative, building up to the climax, where the Benjaminite men “grab” their new wives. As part of the festival tradition, at some point the young women of Shiloh would emerge, dancing, from the town. Hinneh thus signals the surprise or sudden appearance of these women. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh tries to express this notion by saying “As soon as you see the girls of Shiloh coming out….”

If the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances: This is a temporal clause in Hebrew. Almost all English versions begin it with the word “When” (Good News Translation, New International Version) instead of if. The daughters of Shiloh refers to the young women of Shiloh. In the Old Testament such an expression is a frequent way of referring to young women who inhabit a certain place, especially in poetic texts (see Song of Songs 1.5; Isa 3.16; compare verse 14.1-3). This phrase may be rendered “the young women of Shiloh” (Good News Translation) or “the girls of Shiloh” (New International Version). However, translators should be careful when using the word “girls,” since in some languages it refers to women not old enough to marry, and in some contexts it is considered a pejorative or sexist term.

Come out describes the young women leaving the protection of Shiloh’s walls, which would make them vulnerable to attack. Since it was festival time, no one would suspect that there would be any danger. However, the Hebrew verb here (yatsaʾ) has strong overtones, being the same one translated “Bring out” when the evil men of Gibeah cried out to the old man of Ephraim to let them rape the Levite (verse 19.25), as well as when Jephthah’s daughter “came out” dancing, leading to her death (verse 11.34). Thus the storyteller establishes strong literary links to previous stories, foreshadowing yet another unhappy event in Israel’s history.

To dance in the dances pictures the young women dancing up and down the road outside the confines of the town. Revised Standard Version reflects the emphatic Hebrew expression here by repeating the Hebrew root for dance. This repetition may express the joy of the dancing girls and the fact that they suspected no danger. However, in many languages this repetition may not be appreciated, so translators may say simply “to dance.” In some languages there may be several kinds of dances, some for times of mourning and others for times of joy. This was a time of rejoicing, so an appropriate term should be used.

Then come out of the vineyards: Here the Israelites instruct the Benjaminite soldiers to come out of their hiding places, using the same verb as in the previous clause. Many versions avoid this repetition by using another verb, such as “rush out” (Contemporary English Version). Certainly the storyteller intended this repetition, but translators may choose how to best render the style here.

And seize each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh is literally “and you will seize for yourselves [each] man his wife/woman from the daughters of Shiloh.” Once the Benjaminites come out of hiding, each one is to seize a young woman who will become his wife. This is not the common Hebrew verb meaning “take,” which may be used for stealing or even marrying. The verb here is rare, only occurring elsewhere in Psalm 10.9, where it refers to a lion carrying off its prey. Thus some scholars believe it implies “ravishing,” that is, “take a wife by force” (Good News Translation). Given the context, another possible verb is “grab” (Contemporary English Version), that is, “pick up and carry off.” In some cultures “stealing” one’s bride is a common practice, but usually this is prearranged. Here the idea is more that the men are to “capture” these women. Certainly the Israelites’ reasoning here is that, if the Benjaminites themselves actually “capture” the Israelite girls, then the oath to not give Israelite daughters in marriage to the Benjaminites is not broken. We might thus say “and each one of you capture a young woman to make her your wife.” From the daughters of Shiloh repeats the phrase from the beginning of the verse, which may solicit pity for these innocent victims. Despite the fact that the fate of these young women is not death, the scene is clearly reminiscent of Jephthah’s daughter: women dancing with joy, while another more sinister fate awaits them (see verse 11.34).

And go to the land of Benjamin: Once the Benjaminites have taken wives from Shiloh, they are told to go back to their home territory. The storyteller seems to liken this scene to a battle, with the soldiers taking away the spoils. Again this links the text back to the lines in Deborah’s song at verse 5.30. The verb go may be rendered “take them and go.” Land renders the Hebrew word ʾerets, which is often used for the Promised Land. Once again the use of such a traditional word seems to evoke the past, and show that the present situation is far from what the LORD intended for his people. Good News Translation and Revised English Bible render the land of Benjamin as “the territory of Benjamin.” Some languages may prefer “your territory,” since the Benjaminites are being addressed here, but the reference to the land seems significant here.

Translation models for this verse are:

• Keep watch! When the young women of Shiloh come out to dance, then come out of the vineyards. Each of you, grab a girl and take her back home with you.

• Keep a look out! As soon as the dancing girls of Shiloh appear, then rush out of the vineyards, and each of you can seize one and take her back with you to the land of Benjamin.

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 .