שופטים, פרק כ״א, פסוק ו׳

Following the harsh civil war, the Israelites experience a profound shift in their attitude toward the tribe of Benjamin. The intense hatred that fueled the conflict fades, replaced by deep regret and a sudden change of heart [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They begin to feel great sorrow for their brothers and focus their efforts on saving the few survivors who remain [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Up until this moment, the nation had been looking backward, trying to understand the past and the reasons for the severe punishment. Now, however, their attention turns to a terrifying worry about the future [מלבי״ם].

The reality on the ground is devastating. The tribe of Benjamin has faced a crushing defeat, leaving behind only scorched earth, and all the women of the tribe have been killed [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם]. Adding to the crisis, the Israelites had previously sworn an oath never to let their daughters marry the men of Benjamin. This leaves the six hundred surviving men without any possibility of finding wives, guaranteeing that the entire tribe will be completely uprooted and wiped out [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם].

The complete loss of a tribe represents far more than a local tragedy; it is a permanent national and spiritual disaster. God's presence can only rest upon the Israelites when the nation is whole, consisting of all twelve tribes. The disappearance of even one tribe would cause irreversible damage, ruining the spiritual completeness and holiness of the people forever [מלבי״ם]. Realizing the true danger of this loss, the Israelites conclude that Benjamin has been punished enough. They must now work together to find a solution, rebuild the broken tribe, and restore the nation to its former state [ביאור שטיינזלץ].