Judges 21:1-7 ▼

1 Now the men of Israel had sworn [an oath] at Mizpah, “None of us shall give his daughter in marriage to [a man of] Benjamin.”

2 So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.

3 They said, “O LORD, God of Israel, why has this come about in Israel, that there should be today one tribe missing from Israel?”

4 And the next day the people got up early and built an altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5 Then the sons of Israel said, “Which one from all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?” For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, “He shall certainly be put to death.”

6 And the sons of Israel felt sorry [and had compassion] for their brother Benjamin and said, “One tribe has been cut off from Israel today.

7 What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn [an oath] by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters as wives?”