One unusual feature of the Hebrew text here is the many pronominal references referring to distinct groups. Clarifying who is referred to by each pronoun is vital to understanding and translating this verse meaningfully.

And Benjamin returned at that time: The 600 Benjaminite soldiers who had hidden at Rimmon Rock now went back home. The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And may be translated “So” (Contemporary English Version, New International Version), since it introduces a result of the peace proclamation. Returned renders the key Hebrew verb shuv (see verse 2.19), which is often used elsewhere in the Old Testament to mean “restore.” Here the Benjaminites are clearly returning home. The phrase at that time marks the time of their return as significant, so we might emphasize it in a sentence-initial position: “So at that time the Benjaminites went back home.”

And they gave them the women …: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered and indicates that the virgins were given to the Benjaminites after they returned home. Another possible connector is “Then.” The pronoun they refers to the Israelites, who handed over the captured women to the Benjaminites (them). If there is any confusion with these pronouns, they may be replaced by full nouns (see second model below). In this context the verb gave means “gave in marriage,” which Contemporary English Version makes clear by saying “the Israelites let them marry the young women from Jabesh.” Instead of women, translators may say “virgins” or “brides” if that is more appropriate in this context. During those times, women captured in war were regularly given to other men as wives or slaves, as made clear in the Song of Deborah (see verse 5.30).

Whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: The pronoun they refers to the Israelites. Had saved alive renders the Hebrew verb meaning “be alive,” but here it might be translated “had spared” ( NET Bible). Good News Translation says “had not killed.” The phrase of the women of Jabesh-gilead may seem redundant, but it underlines the fact that most of the women in this town were killed. Good News Translation reduces Jabesh-gilead to “Jabesh,” which is an acceptable change.

But they did not suffice for them is a dynamic rendering of the Hebrew, which is literally “and they did not find for them so.” Since there were only 400 virgins found, obviously there were not enough for each of the remaining 600 soldiers. The Hebrew verb for “find” forms an inclusio with “found” in verse 21.12, closing off this subsection. The pronoun they refers to the young women, and the pronoun them points to the Benjaminites. Again it may be necessary to use nouns rather than pronouns here. We might say “but there were not enough women for every man to have a wife.”

Translation models for this verse are:

• So at that time the Benjaminite soldiers went back home. The Israelites gave them the young women from Jabesh-gilead whom they had spared. However, there were not enough women for everyone to have a wife.

• At that time the Benjaminites returned home. Then the Israelites gave the young women taken from Jabesh to the Benjaminites to marry, but there were not enough young women for each of them.

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 .