Judges 21:1-12 ▼

1 Now the Israelites had sworn at Mizpah, “No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.”

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

3 They said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, why has it come to pass that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?”

4 On the next day, the people got up early, and built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of well-being.

5 Then the Israelites said, “Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?” For a solemn oath had been taken concerning whoever did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah, saying, “That one shall be put to death.”

6 But the Israelites had compassion for Benjamin their kin, and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel this day.

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

8 Then they said, “Is there anyone from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah?” It turned out that no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp, to the assembly.

9 For when the roll was called among the people, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there.

10 So the congregation sent twelve thousand soldiers there and commanded them, “Go, put the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead to the sword, including the women and the little ones.

11 This is what you shall do; every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction.”

12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had never slept with a man and brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.