The decision to attack Jabesh-gilead raises a question. How can the Israelites now still observe their great oath
(Judges 21:5) of putting to death all from Jabesh-gilead for not coming to Mizpah to take action against Benjamin, but still claim the women of Jabesh-gilead as brides for the remaining Benjamites?1
This verse reveals the answer, where the congregation goes on to indicate the heart of their mission for the 12,000 men. They specify that in this second holy war the men are to devote to destruction every male and non-virgin woman in Jabesh-gilead. That implies they are to find and seize every unmarried girl that would be of marriageable age—roughly between ages twelve and fifteen—and spare them, while massacring everyone else, including their parents and siblings.
11 This is what you shall do: every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction.”