2. And the people of Bethel came and sat there until evening before God, and they lifted their voices and wept bitterly.
3. And they said, “Why, Yahweh, God of Israel, has it happened today in Israel that one tribe is lacking from Israel?”
4. On the next day the people rose early, and they built there an altar and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.
5. And the Israelites said, “Who in the assembly has not come up from all the tribes of Israel to Yahweh?” For a solemn oath was taken concerning whoever did not come up to Yahweh at Mizpah, saying, “He will certainly be put to death.”
6. But the Israelites had compassion for Benjamin, their relatives, and they said, “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel.
7. What will we do for them—for the ones being left over—for wives? For we have sworn by Yahweh not to give to them our daughters as wives.”