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.
21
Watch, and when you see the young women of Shiloh come out to perform the dances, each of you leave the vineyards and catch a wife for yourself from the young women of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
22
When their fathers or brothers come to us and protest, we will tell them, 'Show favor to them, since we did not get enough wives for each of them in the battle. You didn't actually give [the women] to them, so you are not guilty [of breaking your oath].' "
23
The Benjaminites did this and took the number of women they needed from the dancers they caught. They went back to their own inheritance, rebuilt their cities, and lived in them.
24
At that time, each of the Israelites returned from there to his own tribe and family. Each returned from there to his own inheritance.
25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever he wanted.