שופטים, פרק כ״א, פסוק כ״א

The survivors of the tribe of Benjamin faced the threat of extinction, as the rest of the nation had sworn a strict oath not to give them daughters for marriage. To ensure the tribe's survival without breaking this vow, the elders devise a tactical and highly unusual plan centered around an upcoming festival in Shiloh.

The strategy relies on a carefully coordinated ambush. The men of Benjamin are instructed to hide in the vineyards and keep watch. They are to wait for the local young women, who customarily go out on this festival day to celebrate [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The celebration involves joyful dancing, traditionally accompanied by the playing of flutes and other musical instruments [מצודת ציון].

Once the dancing begins, the men must emerge from their hiding places and act swiftly to capture a bride. This action is defined by its suddenness and speed [מצודת ציון]. However, this operation is not a lawless free-for-all; it is governed by strict conditions. Each man is permitted to take only one woman. Furthermore, they must immediately flee back to their own territory. This rapid retreat is designed to prevent the young women's fathers from having enough time to organize a pursuit and spark a violent conflict [מלבי״ם].

The instruction to capture women naturally raises profound moral concerns. The commentators explain that this drastic measure is a one-time exception, permitted exclusively for the men of Benjamin during a moment of extreme desperation when no other option existed to bypass the national oath. It is a localized solution for a unique crisis. Beyond this singular event, society is expected to return to its proper moral order, where marriage is based entirely on the free will and mutual consent of the man, the woman, and her family, thereby ensuring a good life and upright future generations [חומת אנך].