15
And all Israel was very sorry, and repented for the destroying of one tribe out of Israel.
16
And the ancients said: What shall we do with the rest, that have not received wives? for all the women in Benjamin are dead.
17
And we must use all care, and provide with great diligence, that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
18
For as to our own daughters we cannot give them, being bound with an oath and a curse, whereby we said: Cursed be he that shall give Benjamin any of his daughters to wife.
19
So they took counsel, and said: Behold, there is a yearly solemnity of the Lord in Silo, which is situate on the north of the city of Bethel, and on the east side of the way, that goeth from Bethel to Sichem, and on the south of the town of Lebona.
20
And they commanded the children of Benjamin and said: Go, and lie hid in the vineyards,
21
And when you shall see the daughters of Silo come out, as the custom is, to dance, come ye on a sudden out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife among them, and go into the land of Benjamin.
22
And when their fathers and their brethren shall come, and shall begin to complain against you, and to chide, we will say to them: Have pity on them: for they took them not away as by the right of war or conquest, but when they asked to have them, you gave them not, and the fault was committed on your part.
23
And the children of Benjamin did as they had been commanded: and, according to their number, they carried off for themselves every man his wife of them that were dancing: and they went into their possession, and built up their cities, and dwelt in them.
24
The children of Israel also returned by their tribes, and families, to their dwellings.
25
(21-24) In those days there was no king in Israel: but every one did that which seemed right to himself.