2
And the people came to the house of God, and remained there till evening before God, and lifted up their voices and wept sorely,
3
and said, "O LORD God of Israel, why has this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today 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 burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5
And the children of Israel said, "Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who came not up with the congregation unto the LORD?" For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death."
6
And the children of Israel repented for Benjamin their brother and said, "There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
7
What shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them from our daughters for wives?"
8
And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel who came not up to Mizpah to the LORD?" And behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
9
For the people were numbered, and behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.
10
And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the most valiant and commanded them, saying, "Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, along with the women and the children.
11
And this is the thing that ye shall do: Ye shall utterly destroy every male and every woman that hath lain with a man."
12
And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins who had known no man by lying with any male; and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.