1. Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
2. And the people came to Beth-el, and sat there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.
3. And they said, O LORD, the God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking 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 Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up in the assembly unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up unto the LORD to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely be put to death.