1. Abantu bakwa-Israyeli babefungile eMispa, bethi: “Akuyikubakho muntu oyakunika owakwaBenjamini indodakazi yakhe ibe ngumkakhe.”
2. Abantu base befika eBethele, bahlala khona kwaze kwahlwa phambi kukaNkulunkulu, baphakamisa izwi labo, bakhala kakhulu.
3. Bathi: “Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, lokhu kwenzelweni kwa-Israyeli ukuba kusilale namuhla esinye isizwe sakwa-Israyeli na?”
4. Kwathi ngakusasa abantu bavuka ekuseni, bakha khona i-altare, banikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa neminikelo yokuthula.
5. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathi: “Yisiphi phakathi kwazo zonke izizwe zakwa-Israyeli esingakhuphukelanga ebandleni kuJehova na?” Ngokuba bebefungile isifungo esikhulu ngaye ongakhuphukeli kuJehova eMispa ukuthi wobulawa nokubulawa.
6. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bamhawukela uBenjamini umfowabo, bathi: “Kunqunyiwe namuhla esinye isizwe kwa-Israyeli.
7. Siyakwenze njani ukuba abaseleyo babe nabafazi, lokhu sifungile uJehova ukuthi asiyikubanika amadodakazi ethu abe ngomkabo, na?”
8. Bathi: “Yisiphi kuzo izizwe zakwa-Israyeli esingakhuphukelanga kuJehova eMispa na?” Bheka, akufikanga muntu ekamu* ovela eJabeshi Gileyadi ukuya ebandleni.
9. Sebebalwa abantu; bheka, kwakungekho muntu kwabakhile eJabeshi Gileyadi lapho.
10. Inhlangano yathuma khona abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nambili abangamaqhawe amakhulu, yabayala yathi: “Hambani nibabulale abakhe eJabeshi Gileyadi ngosiko lwenkemba kanye nabesifazane nezingane.