1 NOW THE men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, None of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.
2 And the Israelites came to the house of God [Bethel] and sat there until evening before God and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. [Judg. 20:27.]
3 And they said, O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?
4 And next morning the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5 And the Israelites said, Which among all the tribes of Israel did not come up with the assembly to the Lord? For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely die.
6 And the Israelites changed their purpose [and had compassion] for the Benjamites their kinsmen and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel today.
7 What shall we do for wives for those who are left, seeing we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them our daughters as wives?