1
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh,saying , There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
2
And the peoplecame to the house of God* , and abode there till evenbeforeGod, and lifted up their voices, and wept*sore;
3
And said , O LORDGod of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to dayonetribelacking 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 Israelsaid , Who is there among all the tribes of Israelthatcame not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a greatoath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh,saying , He shall surely be put to death .
6
And the children of Israelrepented them for Benjamin their brother, and said , There is onetribe cut off from Israel this day.
7
How shall we do for wives for them that remain , seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?
8
And they said , What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there camenone to the camp from Jabeshgileadto the assembly.
9
For the people were numbered , and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgileadthere.
10
And the congregationsent thither twelve*thousandmen of the valiantest*, and commanded them, saying , Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgileadwith the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.