1. The men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah: “None of us will give his daughter to a Benjaminite in marriage.”
2. So the people went to Bethel and sat there before God until evening. They wept loudly and bitterly,
3. and cried out, “Why, Lord God of Israel, has it occurred that one tribe is missing in Israel today? ”
4. The next day the people got up early, built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.
5. The Israelites asked, “Who of all the tribes of Israel didn’t come to the Lord with the assembly? ” For a great oath had been taken that anyone who had not come to the Lord at Mizpah would certainly be put to death.
6. But the Israelites had compassion on their brothers, the Benjaminites, and said, “Today a tribe has been cut off from Israel.
7. What should we do about wives for the survivors? We’ve sworn to the Lord not to give them any of our daughters as wives.”
8. They asked, “Which city among the tribes of Israel didn’t come to the Lord at Mizpah? ” It turned out that no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp and the assembly.
9. For when the people were counted, no one was there from the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead.
10. The congregation sent 12,000 brave warriors there and commanded them: “Go and kill the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the sword, including women and children.