1
Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, "None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife."
2
Then the people came to the house of God, and remained there before God till evening. They lifted up their voices and wept bitterly,
3
and said, "O Lord God of Israel, why has this come to pass in Israel, that today there should be one tribe missing in Israel?"
4
So it was, on the next morning, that the people rose early and built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5
The children of Israel said, "Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up with the assembly to the Lord?" For they had made a great oath concerning anyone who had not come up to the Lord at Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death."
6
And the children of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel today.