The Benjaminites Saved from Extinction

21 Now the Israelites had sworn at Mizpah, “No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.”^(A)

The Other Tribes Attack Benjamin

20 Then all the Israelites came out, from Dan to Beer-sheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled in one body before the Lord at Mizpah.^(A)

^2 [a]Never be rash with your mouth nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.^(A)

¹⁸ Yet we cannot give any of our daughters to them as wives.” For the Israelites had sworn, “Cursed be anyone who gives a wife to Benjamin.”^(A)

⁸ All the people got up as one, saying, “We will not any of us go to our tents, nor will any of us return to our houses.

² For I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not based on knowledge.^(A)

The Plot to Kill Paul

¹² In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.^(A)

²³ And he swore^[a] to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”^(A)

²⁸ Then one of the soldiers said, “Your father strictly charged the troops with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food this day.’ And so the troops are faint.” ²⁹ Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land; see how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.^(A)