⁵ And they said among themselves, “Was any tribe of Israel not represented when we held our council before the Lord at Mizpah?” For at that time it was agreed by solemn oath that anyone who refused to come must die. ⁶ There was deep sadness throughout all Israel for the loss of their brother tribe, Benjamin.

“Gone,” they kept saying to themselves, “gone—an entire tribe of Israel has been cut off and is gone. ⁷ And how shall we get wives for the few who remain, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them our daughters?”