⁷ He took a yoke of oxen ^(A)and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, ^(B)“Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out ^(C)as one man.

²⁹ And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his concubine he ^(A)divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.

Israel's War with the Tribe of Benjamin

20 Then ^(A)all the people of Israel came out, ^(B)from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at ^(C)Mizpah.

^10 (A)And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

¹⁴ And they attacked all the cities around ^(A)Gerar, ^(B)for the fear of the Lord was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.

⁵ And the people of Israel said, “Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the Lord?” ^(A)For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.” ⁶ And the people of Israel ^(B)had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. ^7 (C)What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?”

⁸ And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from ^(D)Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly. ⁹ For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of ^(E)Jabesh-gilead was there. ¹⁰ So the congregation sent 12,000 of their bravest men there and commanded them, ^(F)“Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword; also the women and the little ones. ¹¹ This is what you shall do: ^(G)every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction.”

⁵ And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.