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The Benjaminites Saved from Extinction

21Now the Israelites had sworn at Mizpah, ‘No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.’ ²And the people came to Bethel, and sat there until evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. ³They said, ‘O Lord, the God of Israel, why has it come to pass that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?’ ⁴On the next day, the people got up early, and built an altar there, and offered burnt-offerings and sacrifices of well-being. ⁵Then 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.’ ⁶But the Israelites had compassion for Benjamin their kin, and said, ‘One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. ⁷What 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?’