Judges 21:1-7 ▼

1 The men of Israel took an oath at Mizpah: “None of us will give his daughter in marriage to anyone from Benjamin.”

2 So the people went to Bethel and remained there before God until evening, raising their voices in bitter weeping.

3 They said, “LORD, God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel that today one tribe of Israel should be lacking?”

4 Early the next day the people built an altar there and offered burnt offerings and communion offerings.

5 Then the Israelites asked, “Are there any among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the LORD for the assembly?” For there was a solemn oath that anyone who did not go up to the LORD at Mizpah should be put to death.

6 The Israelites were disconsolate over their brother Benjamin and said, “Today one tribe has been cut off from Israel.

7 What can we do about wives for the survivors, since we have sworn by the LORD not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?”