1. The Israelites had taken an oath in Mizpah, saying, “Not one of us will allow his daughter to marry a Benjaminite.”
2. So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, weeping loudly and uncontrollably.
3. They said, “Why, O Lord God of Israel, has this happened in Israel?” An entire tribe has disappeared from Israel today!”
4. The next morning the people got up early and built an altar there. They offered up burnt sacrifices and token of peace.
5. The Israelites asked, “Who from all the Israelite tribes has not assembled before the Lord?” They had made a solemn oath that whoever did not assemble before the Lord at Mizpah must certainly be executed.