4. On the next day the people rose early, and they built there an altar and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.
5. And the Israelites said, “Who in the assembly has not come up from all the tribes of Israel to Yahweh?” For a solemn oath was taken concerning whoever did not come up to Yahweh at Mizpah, saying, “He will certainly be put to death.”
6. But the Israelites had compassion for Benjamin, their relatives, and they said, “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel.
7. What will we do for them—for the ones being left over—for wives? For we have sworn by Yahweh not to give to them our daughters as wives.”
8. They asked, “Which one is there from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to Yahweh at Mizpah?” And behold, no one came from Jabesh-gilead to the camp, to the assembly.
9. The people were counted, and no one was there from the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead.
10. And the congregation sent there twelve thousand men from the troops, and they commanded them, saying, “Go, strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, and the women and children.
11. This is the thing you will do: you will destroy every man and every woman who had sex with a man.”
12. And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had not had sex with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
13. Then the congregation sent and spoke all this to the descendants of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon, and they assured them they would not be hurt.
14. And Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave to them the women whom they kept alive from Jabesh-gilead; but they were not enough for them.
15. And the people felt sorry for Benjamin because Yahweh weakened the tribes of Israel.
16. So the elders of the congregation said, “What should we do for the remaining ones for wives, since the women from Benjamin have been destroyed?”
17. And they said, “There must be a remnant for Benjamin, so that a tribe will not be blotted out from Israel.