1 Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin as wife.
2 And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till evening before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept greatly;
3 And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?
4 And it came to pass the next day, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5 And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
6 And the children of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
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?