1. In Mizpah the men of Israel had taken an oath: “No one among us will give his daughter to a Benjamite as his wife.”
2. So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening. They raised their voices and wept, sobbing loudly.
3. They said, “Why, Lord God of Israel, has this happened in Israel, that today a tribe is missing from Israel?”
4. In the morning the people got up early and built an altar there. They offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5. The children of Israel said, “Who from all the tribes of Israel did not go up with the assembly to the Lord?” For they vowed a solemn oath regarding whoever did not go up to the Lord at Mizpah stating, “He must be killed.”
6. The children of Israel lamented for Benjamin their brother, and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel today.
7. What can we do to find wives for those who are left? For we swore by the Lord not to give them our daughters as wives.”
8. So they said, “Is there anyone from among the tribes of Israel who did not go up to the Lord at Mizpah?” Then they learned that no one from the camp of Jabesh Gilead had come to the assembly.
9. When the people were counted, indeed, there was not a man there from among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead.
10. So the assembly sent twelve thousand valorous men there and commanded them, “Go and strike down the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, including women and children.