15. And the people had compassion on Benjamin, because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
16. Then the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women of Benjamin are destroyed?
17. And they said, There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe shall not be wiped out of Israel.
18. But we cannot give them wives of our daughters, for the Israelites have sworn, Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin.
19. So they said, Behold, there is the yearly feast of the Lord at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem and south of Lebonah.
20. So they commanded the Benjamites, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,
21. And watch; if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and catch every man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh and go to the land of Benjamin.
22. And when their fathers or their brothers come to us to complain, we will say to them, Grant them graciously unto us, because we did not reserve a wife for each of them in battle, neither did you give wives to them, for that would have made you guilty [of breaking your oath].
23. And the Benjamites did so and took wives, according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried off; then they went and returned to their inheritance and repaired the towns and dwelt in them.
24. And the Israelites left there then, every man to his tribe and family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance.
25. In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.