1. The men of Israel took an oath at Mizpah: “None of us will give his daughter in marriage to anyone from Benjamin.”
2. So the people went to Bethel and remained there before God until evening, raising their voices in bitter weeping.
3. They said, “Lord, God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel that today one tribe of Israel should be lacking?”
4. Early the next day the people built an altar there and offered burnt offerings and communion offerings.
5. Then the Israelites asked, “Are there any among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the Lord for the assembly?” For there was a solemn oath that anyone who did not go up to the Lord at Mizpah should be put to death.