The "wife oath"that the Israelites had taken at Mizpah (20:8-11) may have had some connection with God's commands concerning Israel's treatment of the Canaanites (Lev. 7:1-3). Israel was to destroy these enemies utterly and not intermarry with them. However this was how Israel was to deal with Canaanites, not her own brethren. Obviously the remaining Benjamites needed wives and children to perpetuate the tribe.
The civil war had left only 600 Benjamite warriors alive (20:47). The population of this endangered tribe was so small now that it could easily have become extinct. Returning to Bethel and the ark, the victorious Israelites reflected on the situation they had created (v. 2). The thrill of victory turned to the agony of defeat as they realized the consequences of their actions. The dilemma that their "wife oath"(v. 1) and their sorrow (v. 2) posed is the subject of this chapter. How could they resolve these two things?
The Israelites' initial reaction was to blame God for the situation (v. 3). The real reason for it was their failure to seek and follow God's will earlier (cf. 20:8-11).
Then they sought the Lord more seriously (v. 4). It seems strange that the Israelites built an altar at Bethel since they had recently offered sacrifices on the one before the tabernacle there (20:26). Perhaps they rebuilt or enlarged the altar at Bethel, or they may have built another one.
