1 The Israelites had made a pledge at Mizpah, declaring, "None of us will allow his daughter to marry a Benjaminite."
2 But the people came to Bethel and sat there until evening before God, raising their voices and crying bitterly.
3 "Lord, God of Israel," they said, "why has this happened among us that as of today one tribe will be missing from Israel?"
4 And the next day, the people got up early and built an altar there. They offered entirely burned offerings and well-being sacrifices.
5 Then the Israelites asked, "Were there any out of all the tribes of Israel who didn’t march up to the assembly before the Lord?" Indeed, they had made a solemn pledge that anyone who didn’t march up before the Lord at Mizpah would be put to death.
6 The Israelites had a change of heart concerning their relatives the Benjaminites. They said, "Today one tribe has been cut off from Israel.