The people of Israel counted everyone, but there was no one from Jabesh Gilead.
So the whole group of Israelites sent twelve thousand soldiers to Jabesh Gilead to kill the people with their swords, even the women and children.
Then they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel did not come here to Mizpah?” They found that no one from the city of Jabesh Gilead had come.
‘May the town of Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the Lord. ‘Bitterly curse its people, because they did not come to help the Lord. They did not fight the strong enemy.’