Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, saying, None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.

However, we cannot give them wives from our daughters, for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed is he who gives a wife to Benjamin.

Curse Meroz, said the Angel of Jehovah, curse its inhabitants bitterly, because they did not come to the help of Jehovah, to the help of Jehovah against the mighty.

Nevertheless no devoted thing that a man may devote unto Jehovah of all that he has, both man and beast, or the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is set apart, holy, unto Jehovah.

No devoted thing, devoted for destruction by men, shall be redeemed, but shall die the death.

And he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whoever does not come out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen. And the fear of Jehovah fell on the people, and they came out as one man.

Cursed is he who does the work of Jehovah deceitfully, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.