Judges 21:1-14

1Now the men of Israel 1had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin 2in marriage.” 23So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, and raised their voices and wept 4profusely. 3And they said, “Why, Lord, God of Israel, has this happened in Israel, that one tribe is missing today from Israel?” 4And it came about the next day that the people got up early and built 5an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5Then the sons of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not go up to the Lord in the assembly?” For 6they had taken a solemn oath concerning anyone 7who did not go up to the Lord at Mizpah, saying, “He shall certainly be put to death.” 6And the sons of Israel were sorry for their brother Benjamin, and said, “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel! 7What are we to do for wives for those who are left, since we have 8sworn by the Lord not to give them any of our daughters as wives?”

8And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not go up to the Lord at Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly. 9For when the people were 9counted, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there. 10And the congregation sent twelve thousand 10of the valiant warriors there, and commanded them, saying, “Go and 11strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, along with the women and the children. 11And this is the thing that you shall do: you 12shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who has 13slept with a male.” 12And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man by 14sleeping with him; and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

13Then the whole congregation sent word and spoke to the sons of Benjamin who were 15at the rock of Rimmon, and 16proclaimed peace to them. 14And the tribe of Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had allowed to live from the women of Jabesh-gilead; but they 17were not enough for them.