After the Israelites conduct some sort of review, they discover that no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly
(Judges 21:8). Therefore, it was not a party to Israel’s first oath, not to give its daughters in marriage to Benjamin. And so Israel’s second oath at Mizpah—all absentees from the battle shall be killed—is now conveniently recalled, so that the Israelites can legally give the daughters of Jabesh-gilead without any danger of breaking the first vow.
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 Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly.