7
whereof shall they take wives? certainly all we have sworn in common, that we shall not give our daughters to them. (where shall they get wives? for we have all sworn in common, that we shall not give any of our daughters to them.)
8
Then they said, Who is it of all the lineages of Israel, that went not up to the Lord in Mizpeh? And lo! the dwellers of Jabesh of Gilead were found, that they were not in that host. (And again they said, Who is it out of all of Israel's tribes, who did not go up unto the Lord at Mizpeh? And lo! the inhabitants of Jabesh of Gilead were found, that they had not been in that gathering.)
9
Also in that time, when they were in Shiloh, none of them was found there. (And there at Bethel, when the men were numbered, or were listed, none of the sons of Jabesh of Gilead was found to be there.)
10
Therefore they sent ten thousand (of the) strongest men, and commanded to them, Go ye, and smite the dwellers of Jabesh of Gilead by the sharpness of sword, as well the wives as the little children of them. (And so they sent twelve thousand of their strongest men, and commanded to them, Go ye, and strike down the people of Jabesh of Gilead with thy sharp swords, and their wives as well as their little children.)
11
And this thing shall be to you, that ye shall keep; slay ye all of male kind, and the women that have known men fleshly; reserve ye the virgins/but keep ye the maidens. (And this word shall be to you, that ye shall obey; kill ye all the males, and the women who have fleshly known men; but reserve ye the virgins/but keep ye the maidens.)
12
And four hundred virgins, that knew not the bed of (a) man, were found (among the people) of Jabesh of Gilead; and they brought them to the tents in Shiloh, into the land of Canaan.
13
And Israel sent messengers to the sons of Benjamin, that were in the stone of Rimmon; and they commanded to them, that they should receive those women in peace. (And then the Israelites sent messengers to the Benjaminites, who were at the Rock of Rimmon; and they agreed to make peace.)
14
And the sons of Benjamin came (back) in that time, and the daughters of Jabesh of Gilead were given to them to wives; for they found none other women, which they should give to them in like manner. (And then the Benjaminites came back, and the daughters of Jabesh of Gilead were given to them for wives; but they found no other women, whom they could give to them in like manner.)
15
And all Israel sorrowed greatly, and did penance on the slaying of one lineage of Israel. (And all Israel greatly sorrowed, and had great remorse, or regret, over the killing of one of the tribes of Israel.)
16
And the greater men in birth said, What shall we do to the other men, that have not taken wives? All the women in the lineage of Benjamin have fallen down, (And the men of great age, that is, the elders, said, What shall we do for the other men who have not received wives? For all the women in the tribe of Benjamin have been killed,)
17
and it is to us to purvey with great care and great study, that one lineage be not done away from Israel. (and it is for us to find a way, so that one tribe be not done away from Israel.)