"Whatshall we dofor wivesfor thosewho are left,since we have swornby the LORDnot to givethem anyof our daughtersin marriage?"
Now the menof Israelhad swornin Mizpah,saying,"Noneof us shall givehis daughterto Benjaminin marriage."
"But we cannotgivethem wivesof our daughters."For the sonsof Israelhad sworn,saying,"Cursedis he who givesa wifeto Benjamin."
"It shall comeabout, whentheir fathersortheir brotherscometo complainto us, that we shall sayto them, 'Givethem to us voluntarily,becausewe did not takefor eachman[of Benjamin] a wifein battle,nordid you give[them] to them, [else] you would nowbe guilty.'"
And the sonsof Israelwere sorryfor their brotherBenjaminand said,"Onetribeis cutofffrom Israeltoday.
And they said,"Whatoneis there of the tribesof Israelwhodid not comeup to the LORDat Mizpah?"And behold,noonehad cometo the campfrom Jabesh-gileadto the assembly.
But the peoplesaidto Saul,"Must Jonathandie,whohas broughtaboutthisgreatdeliverancein Israel?Farfrom it! As the LORDlives,not one hairof his headshall fallto the ground,for he has workedwith Godthisday."So the peoplerescuedJonathanand he did not die.
