¹⁶ Then the leaders of the people said, “What will we do for wives for those who are left? All the women of Benjamin were killed.” ¹⁷ And they said, “There must be something that can be given to those of Benjamin who are left. Or a family will be taken out of Israel. ¹⁸ But we cannot give them our daughters for wives.” For the men of Israel had promised, “A curse will come to the one who gives a wife to Benjamin.”