2
And the people came to Baethel, and sat there until evening before God: and they lifted up their voice and wept with a great weeping;
3
and said, Wherefore, O Lord God of Israel, has this come to pass, that to-day one tribe should be counted from Israel?
4
And it came to pass on the morrow that the people rose up early, and built there an altar, and offered up whole-burnt-offerings and peace offerings.
5
And the children of Israel said, Who of all the tribes of Israel, went not up in the congregation to the Lord? for there was a great oath concerning those who went not up to the Lord to Massephath, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
6
And the children of Israel relented toward Benjamin their brother, and said, To-day one tribe is cut off from Israel.
7
What shall we do for wives for the rest that remain? whereas we have sworn by the Lord, not to give them of our daughters for wives.
8
And they said, What one of the tribes of Israel, who went not up to the Lord to Massephath? and, behold, no man came to the camp from Jabis Galaad to the assembly.
9
And the people were numbered, and there was not there a man from the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad.
10
And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the strongest, and they charged them, saying, Go ye and smite the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad with the edge of the sword.
11
And this shall ye do: every male and every woman that has known the lying with man ye shall devote , but the virgins ye shall save alive: and they did so.
12
And they found among the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad four hundred young virgins, who had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them to Selom in the land of Chanaan.