1. The Israelites had vowed at Mizpah, “We will never give our daughters in marriage to a man from the tribe of Benjamin.”
2. Now the people went to Bethel and sat in the presence of God until evening, weeping loudly and bitterly.
3. “O lord, God of Israel,” they cried out, “why has this happened in Israel? Now one of our tribes is missing from Israel!”
4. Early the next morning the people built an altar and presented their burnt offerings and peace offerings on it.