1
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter to Benjamin as wife.
2
The people came to Bethel, and sat there until evening before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.
3
They said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?
4
It happened on the next day that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace-offerings.
5
The children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who didn't come up in the assembly to Yahweh? For they had made a great oath concerning him who didn't come up to Yahweh to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
6
The children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
7
How shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by Yahweh that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?
8
They said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel who didn't come up to Yahweh to Mizpah? Behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.
9
For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.
10
The congregation sent there twelve thousand men of the most valiant, and commanded them, saying, Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones.
11
This is the thing that you shall do: you shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who has lain by man.