16. The elders of the congregation said, “What should we do about wives for those who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed? ”
17. They said, “There must be heirs for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out.
18. But we can’t give them our daughters as wives.” For the Israelites had sworn, “Anyone who gives a wife to a Benjaminite is cursed.”
19. They also said, “Look, there’s an annual festival to the Lord in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.”
20. Then they commanded the Benjaminites: “Go and hide in the vineyards.