1
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter to the Benjaminites as wife.
2
And the people came to Bethel, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly,
3
and said, Jehovah, God of Israel, why is it come to pass in Israel, that there should be this day one tribe lacking in Israel?
4
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered up burnt-offerings and peace-offerings.
5
And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation to Jehovah? For they had [made] a great oath concerning him that came not up to Jehovah to Mizpah, saying, He shall certainly be put to death.
6
And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, To-day is one tribe extirpated from Israel.
7
What shall we do for wives for them that remain? since we have sworn by Jehovah that we will not give them of our daughters for wives.
8
And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpah to Jehovah? And behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-Gilead, to the congregation;
9
for the people were numbered, and behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead there.
10
And the assembly sent thither twelve thousand men of the most valiant and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead with the edge of the sword, and the women and the children.
11
And this is the thing which ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain with man.