Judges 21:1-12 ▼

1 And the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not a man of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.”

2 And the people came to Bethel and remained there until the evening before the face of God, and they lifted up their voices and wept, bitterly weeping,

3 and they said, “Why, O YHWH, God of Israel, has this come to pass in Israel, to be lacking today in Israel one tribe?”

4 And it came to pass on the next morning that the people rose early and built there an altar, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5 And the sons of Israel said, “Who is he that did not come up with the assembly among all the tribes of Israel to YHWH?” For a great oath had been concerning not coming up to YHWH at Mizpah, saying, “He must surely be put to death.”

6 And the sons of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and they said, “Today is cut off one tribe from Israel.

7 What shall we do for those who remain for wives, since we have sworn by YHWH that we will not give to them our daughters as wives?”

8 And they said, “Who is one from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to YHWH to Mizpah?” And behold, no man had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

9 And the people were numbered, and behold, there was not a man of those dwelling in Jabesh-gilead.

10 And the congregation sent out there twelve thousand of their most valiant men, and they commanded them, saying, “Go and strike the dwellers in Jabesh-gilead with the mouth of the sword, and the women and the children.

11 And this is the thing that you? shall do: Every male and every woman knowing the lying of a male you? shall devote to destruction.”

12 And they found among those dwelling in Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man by the lying with a male, and they brought them in to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.