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.
6. The Israelites were disconsolate over their brother Benjamin and said, “Today one tribe has been cut off from Israel.
7. What can we do about wives for the survivors, since we have sworn by the Lord not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?”
8. And when they asked, “Is there one among the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the Lord in Mizpah?” they found that none of the men of Jabesh-gilead had come to the encampment for the assembly.
9. A roll call of the people was taken, and none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was present.
10. So the assembly sent twelve thousand warriors there with orders, “Go put the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead to the sword.
11. This is what you are to do: Every male and every woman who has had relations with a male you shall put under the ban.”
12. Finding among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgin women, who had not had relations with a man, they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, in the land of Canaan.
13. Then the whole assembly sent word to the Benjaminites at the crag of Rimmon, offering them peace.
14. So Benjamin returned at that time, and they were given as wives the women of Jabesh-gilead who had been spared; but these proved to be not enough for them.
15. The people had regrets about Benjamin because the Lord had made a breach among the tribes of Israel.
16. The elders of the assembly said, “What shall we do for wives for the survivors? For the women of Benjamin have been annihilated.”