Judges 21:1-6

Wives for the Benjamites 1The men of Israel had taken an oath at Mizpah: “Not one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.” 2The people went to Bethel, Or to the house of God where they sat before God until evening, raising their voices and weeping bitterly.

3“ LORD, God of Israel,” they cried, “why has this happened to Israel? Why should one tribe be missing from Israel today?”

4Early the next day the people built an altar and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.

5Then the Israelites asked, “Who from all the tribes of Israel has failed to assemble before the LORD ?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to assemble before the LORD at Mizpah was to be put to death. 6Now the Israelites grieved for the tribe of Benjamin, their fellow Israelites. “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel,” they said.