Wives for the Tribe of Benjamin 1When the Israelites had
gathered at Mizpah, they had made a solemn promise to the Lord:
“None of us will allow a Benjaminite to marry a daughter of
ours.” 2So now the people of Israel went to Bethel and sat there
in the presence of God until evening. Loudly and bitterly they
mourned: 3Lord God of Israel, why has this happened? Why is the
tribe of Benjamin about to disappear from Israel?” 4Early the
next morning the people built an altar there, offered fellowship
sacrifices and burnt some sacrifices whole. 5They asked, “Is
there any group out of all the tribes of Israel that did not go
to the gathering in the Lord's presence at Mizpah?” (They had
taken a solemn oath that anyone who had not gone to Mizpah would
be put to death.) 6The people of Israel felt sorry for their
brothers the Benjaminites and said, “Today Israel has lost one
of its tribes. 7What shall we do to provide wives for the men of
Benjamin who are left? We have made a solemn promise to the Lord
that we will not g