7. What shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters as wives?
8. And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpah to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
9. For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.
10. And the congregation sent there twelve thousand of the most valiant men, and commanded them, saying, Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.
11. And this is the thing that you shall do, you shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that has lain with a man.
12. And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
13. And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.
14. And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet they did not suffice for them.
15. And the people grieved for 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 them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
17. And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that are escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
18. However we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that gives a wife to Benjamin.
19. Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
20. Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;