Los hombres de Israel habían jurado en Mizpa, diciendo: Ninguno de nosotros dará su hija por mujer a los de Benjamín^a. 2 Entonces el pueblo vino a Betel, y permaneció allí delante de Dios hasta la noche; y alzaron sus voces y lloraron amargamente^1a. 3 Y dijeron: ¿Por qué, oh SEÑOR, Dios de Israel, ha sucedido esto en Israel, que falte hoy una tribu en Israel? 4 Y¹ al día siguiente el pueblo se levantó temprano, y edificaron allí un altar y ofrecieron holocaustos y ofrendas de paz^a.

5 Después los hijos de Israel dijeron: ¿Quién de entre todas las tribus de Israel no subió a¹ la asamblea del² SEÑOR? Porque habían hecho³ gran juramento en cuanto a todo aquel que no subiera al SEÑOR en Mizpa, diciendo: Ciertamente se le dará muerte^a. 6 Los hijos de Israel se entristecieron por su hermano Benjamín, y dijeron: Ha sido cortada hoy una tribu de Israel. 7 ¿Qué haremos para conseguir mujeres para los que han quedado, ya que hemos jurado por el SEÑOR no darles ninguna de nuestras hijas en matrimonio^a?

8 Y dijeron: ¿Cuál de las tribus de Israel no subió al SEÑOR en Mizpa? Y he aquí que ninguno de Jabes-galaad había venido al campamento, a la asamblea. 9 Porque cuando contaron al pueblo, he aquí, ninguno de los habitantes de Jabes-galaad estaba allí. 10 La congregación envió a doce mil de los hombres de guerra¹ allá, y les mandaron diciendo: Id y herid a los habitantes de Jabes-galaad a filo de espada, con las mujeres y los niños^a. 11 Y esto es lo que haréis: destruiréis a todo hombre y a toda mujer que se haya acostado¹ con varón^a. 12 Y hallaron entre los habitantes de Jabes-galaad a cuatrocientas doncellas que no se habían acostado¹ con varón; y las llevaron al campamento en Silo, que está en la tierra de Canaán.

13 Toda la congregación envió palabra, y hablaron a los hijos de Benjamín que estaban en la peña de Rimón^a, y les hablaron de paz^b. 14 Volvieron entonces los de Benjamín, y les dieron las mujeres que habían guardado vivas de entre las mujeres de Jabes-galaad; mas no había suficientes para todos¹. 15 Y el pueblo tuvo tristeza por Benjamín, porque el SEÑOR había abierto una brecha en las tribus de Israel.

16 Entonces los ancianos de la congregación dijeron: ¿Qué haremos para conseguir mujeres para los que quedan, ya que las mujeres de Benjamín fueron destruidas? 17 Y dijeron: Debe haber herencia para los de Benjamín que han escapado, para que no sea exterminada¹ una tribu de Israel. 18 Pero nosotros no le podemos dar mujeres de nuestras hijas. Porque los hijos de Israel habían jurado diciendo: Maldito el que dé mujer a los de Benjamín^a.

19 Y dijeron: He aquí, cada año hay una fiesta del SEÑOR en Silo^a, que está al norte de Betel, al lado oriental del camino que sube de Betel a Siquem, y al sur de Lebona. 20 Y mandaron a los hijos de Benjamín, diciendo: Id, y emboscaos en las viñas, 21 y velad; y he aquí, si las hijas de Silo salen a tomar parte¹ en las danzas^a, entonces saldréis de las viñas y tomaréis cada uno una² mujer de las hijas de Silo, y volved³ a la tierra de Benjamín. 22 Y sucederá que cuando sus padres o sus hermanos vengan a quejarse a nosotros, les diremos: Dádnoslas voluntariamente, porque no pudimos tomar en batalla una¹ mujer para cada hombre de Benjamín, tampoco² vosotros se las disteis, pues entonces seríais culpables^a. 23 Lo hicieron así los hijos de Benjamín, y tomaron mujeres conforme a su número de entre las que danzaban, de las cuales se apoderaron. Y se fueron y volvieron a su heredad, y reedificaron las ciudades y habitaron en ellas^a. 24 Los hijos de Israel se fueron entonces de allí, cada uno a su tribu y a su familia, y todos ellos salieron de allí para su heredad.

25 En esos días no había rey en Israel^a; cada uno hacía lo que le parecía bien ante sus ojos.

Now the men of Israel ^ahad sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin ¹in marriage.” 2 ^aSo the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, and raised their voices and wept ¹profusely. 3 And they said, “Why, LORD, God of Israel, has this happened in Israel, that one tribe is missing today from Israel?” 4 And it came about the next day that the people got up early and built ^aan altar there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5 Then the sons of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not go up to the LORD in the assembly?” For ¹they had taken a solemn oath concerning anyone ^awho did not go up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, “He shall certainly be put to death.” 6 And the sons of Israel were sorry for their brother Benjamin, and said, “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel! 7 What are we to do for wives for those who are left, since we have ^asworn by the LORD not to give them any of our daughters as wives?”

8 And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not go up to the LORD at Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly. 9 For when the people were ¹counted, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there. 10 And the congregation sent twelve thousand ¹of the valiant warriors there, and commanded them, saying, “Go and ^astrike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, along with the women and the children. 11 And this is the thing that you shall do: you ^ashall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who has ¹slept with a male.” 12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man by ¹sleeping with him; and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

13 Then the whole congregation sent word and spoke to the sons of Benjamin who were ^aat the rock of Rimmon, and ^bproclaimed peace to them. 14 And the tribe of Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had allowed to live from the women of Jabesh-gilead; but they ¹were not enough for them. 15 And the people were sorry for Benjamin, because the LORD had created a gap in the tribes of Israel.

16 Then the elders of the congregation said, “What are we to do for wives for those who are left, since the women have been eliminated from Benjamin?” 17 And they said, “There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe will not be wiped out from Israel. 18 But we cannot give them wives from our daughters.” For the sons of Israel ^ahad sworn, saying, “Cursed is he who gives a wife to Benjamin!”

19 So they said, “Behold, there is a feast of the LORD from year to year in ^aShiloh, which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south side of Lebonah.” 20 And they commanded the sons of Benjamin, saying, “Go and lie in wait in the vineyards, 21 and watch; and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to ^1atake part in the dances, then you shall come out of the vineyards, and each of you shall seize his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. 22 And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we shall say to them, ‘¹Give them to us voluntarily, because we did not take for each man of Benjamin ²a wife in battle, ^3anor did you give them to them, ⁴otherwise you would now be guilty.’” 23 The sons of Benjamin did so, and took wives according to their number from those who danced, whom they seized. And they went and returned to their inheritance, and ^arebuilt the cities and lived in them. 24 And the sons of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family, and each one departed from there to his inheritance.

25 ^aIn those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Now the men of Israel ^ahad sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin ¹in marriage.” 2 ^aSo the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, and lifted up their voices and wept ¹bitterly. 3 They said, “Why, O LORD, God of Israel, has this come about in Israel, so that one tribe should be missing today in Israel?” 4 It came about the next day that the people arose early and built ^aan altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5 Then the sons of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?” For ¹they had taken a great oath concerning him ^awho did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.” 6 And the sons of Israel were sorry for their brother Benjamin and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel today. 7 What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have ^asworn by the LORD not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?”

8 And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly. 9 For when the people were ¹numbered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there. 10 And the congregation sent 12,000 of the valiant warriors there, and commanded them, saying, “Go and ^astrike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones. 11 This is the thing that you shall do: you ^ashall utterly destroy every man and every woman who has ¹lain with a man.” 12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with ¹him; and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

13 Then the whole congregation sent word and spoke to the sons of Benjamin who were ^aat the rock of Rimmon, and ^bproclaimed peace to them. 14 Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the women of Jabesh-gilead; yet they ¹were not enough for them. 15 And the people were sorry for Benjamin because the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

16 Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?” 17 They said, “There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe will not be blotted out from Israel. 18 But we cannot give them wives of our daughters.” For the sons of Israel ^ahad sworn, saying, “Cursed is he who gives a wife to Benjamin.”

19 So they said, “Behold, there is a feast of the LORD from year to year in ^aShiloh, which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south side of Lebonah.” 20 And they commanded the sons of Benjamin, saying, “Go and lie in wait in the vineyards, 21 and watch; and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to ^1atake part in the dances, then you shall come out of the vineyards and each of you shall catch his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. 22 It shall come about, when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, that we shall say to them, ‘Give them to us voluntarily, because we did not take for each man of Benjamin ¹a wife in battle, ^2anor did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.’” 23 The sons of Benjamin did so, and took wives according to their number from those who danced, whom they carried away. And they went and returned to their inheritance and ^arebuilt the cities and lived in them. 24 The sons of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family, and each one of them went out from there to his inheritance.

25 ^aIn those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Now the men of Israel ^ahad sworn an oath at Mizpah, “None of us shall give his daughter in marriage to a man of Benjamin.” 2 ^aSo the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. Judg 20:27 3 They said, “O LORD, God of Israel, why has this come about in Israel, that there should be today one tribe missing from Israel?” 4 And the next day the people got up early and built ^aan altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5 Then the sons of Israel said, “Which one from all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?” For they had taken a great oath concerning him ^awho did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, “He shall certainly be put to death.” 6 And the sons of Israel felt sorry and had compassion for their brother Benjamin and said, “One tribe has been cut off from Israel today. 7 What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have ^asworn an oath by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters as wives?”

8 And they said, “Which one is there of the tribes from Israel that did not come up to Mizpah to the LORD?” And behold, it was discovered that no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly. 9 For when the people were assembled, behold, there was not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there. 10 And the congregation sent twelve thousand of the most courageous men there, and commanded them saying, “Go and ^astrike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the sword, including the women and the children. 11 And this is the thing that you shall do; you shall ^autterly destroy every male and every woman who ¹is not a virgin.” 12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man intimately; and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

13 Then the whole congregation sent word to the surviving sons of Benjamin who were ^aat the rock of Rimmon, and ^bproclaimed peace to them. 14 So the survivors of Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the women of Jabesh-gilead; but there were not enough to provide wives for them. 15 And the people were sorry and had compassion for the survivors of the tribe of Benjamin because the LORD had made a gap in the tribes of Israel.

16 Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those men who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?” 17 They said, “There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe will not be wiped out from Israel. 18 But we cannot give them wives from our daughters.” For the sons of Israel ^ahad sworn an oath, “Cursed is he who gives a wife to a man from the tribe of Benjamin.”

19 So they said, “Listen, there is the yearly feast of the LORD at ^aShiloh, which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south side of Lebonah.” 20 So they instructed the sons of Benjamin, saying, “Go, set an ambush in the vineyards, 21 and watch; if the daughters of Shiloh come out to ^adance in the dances, then you shall come out of the vineyards and each of you shall catch his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of the tribe of Benjamin. 22 When their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we shall say to them, ‘Give them to us voluntarily, because we did not take a wife for each man of Benjamin in battle, ^anor did you give wives to them, for that would have made you guilty of breaking your oath.’” 23 So the sons of the tribe of Benjamin did as instructed and took wives according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried away. Then they went and returned to their inheritance, and ^arebuilt the towns and lived in them. 24 The sons of Israel departed from there at that time, each man to his tribe and family, and each man went from there to his inheritance.

25 ^aIn those days when the judges governed there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.