1Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter to Benjamin as wife.
2The people came to Bethel, and sat there until evening before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.
3They said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?
4It happened on the next day that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace-offerings.
5The children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who didn`t come up in the assembly to Yahweh? For they had made a great oath concerning him who didn`t come up to Yahweh to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
6The children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
7How shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by Yahweh that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?