The Daughters of Shiloh

The Daughters of Shiloh
Judges 19-21
Kimberly Hartfield ©2007

Behold, here is my daughter, a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing. 19:24
In those days there was no king in Israel : every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 21:25

Long is the night to be battered and bruised
Must I die on the threshold of God’s people—abused
Like the Levite concubine shoved out the door
An animal sacrificed for the one she called lord

Why has my soul been so wrongfully accused
And my body ravaged, my mind shamefully used
Why have my cries been silenced and ignored
By the very ones who my heart would adore

Long comes the dawn when the evil of darkness gropes
Hands digging into the threshold of hope
Get up and let’s go, it’s time to move on
But the breath of the bride is dead and gone

Is the cost of the battle too great a price
For such a small and insignificant sacrifice
Benjamites all, brothers against brothers
Lift up your swords, yes, one to another

Are there virgins enough for the slaughtered tribe
Round up the daughters and make them wives
Every man does what he thinks rightfully so
While there’s no king in Israel for the daughters of Shiloh

But the King will soon come and take up the hand
Giving life to the bride of that blood-stained land
Wipe off your tears, girl, get up and let’s go
For the sun will dawn on the camp of Shiloh