¹⁶ The elders of the ·Israelites [^Lassembly; congregation] said, “The women of Benjamin have been ·killed [destroyed; wiped out]. ·Where can we get wives [^LWhat shall we do] for the men of Benjamin who are still alive? ¹⁷ ·These men must have children to continue their families [^LThe survivors of Benjamin must have heirs/an inheritance] so a tribe in Israel will not ·die [be wiped/blotted] out. ¹⁸ But we cannot allow our daughters to marry them, because ·we swore [^Lthe sons/^Tchildren of Israel had sworn], ‘Anyone who gives a wife to ·a man of Benjamin [^LBenjamin] is cursed.’