1 And the men of Yisra’ĕl had sworn an oath at Mitspah, saying, “Not one of us shall give his daughter to Binyamin as a wife.”
2 So the people came to Bĕyth Ěl, and sat there until evening before Elohim, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly,
3 and said, “O יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, why has this come about in Yisra’ĕl, that today there should be one tribe missing in Yisra’ĕl?”
4 And it came to be on the morrow, that the people rose early and built an altar there, and brought burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5 And the children of Yisra’ĕl said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Yisra’ĕl who did not come up with the assembly to יהוה?” For they had made a great oath concerning anyone who had not come up to יהוה at Mitspah, saying, “He shall certainly be put to death.”
6 And the children of Yisra’ĕl were sorry for Binyamin their brother, and said, “One tribe is cut off from Yisra’ĕl today.
7 “What do we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by יהוה not to give them our daughters as wives?”