1Now the men of Israel had taken an oath in Mizpah, saying, Not one of us will give his daughter as a wife to Benjamin.
2And the people came to Beth-el, waiting there till evening before God, and gave themselves up to bitter weeping.
3And they said, O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this fate come on Israel, that today one tribe has been cut off from Israel?
4Then on the day after, the people got up early and made an altar there, offering burned offerings and peace-offerings.
5And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel, who did not come up to the Lord at the meeting of all Israel? For they had taken a great oath that whoever did not come up to Mizpah to the Lord was to be put to death.
6And the children of Israel were moved with pity for Benjamin their brother, saying, Today one tribe has been cut off from Israel.
7What are we to do about wives for those who are still living? For we have taken an oath by the Lord that we will not give them our daughters for wives.