Judges 20:1-18

1Then allH3605 the IsraelitesH1121H3478 from DanH1835 toH5704 BeershebaH884 and from the landH776 of GileadH1568 came outH3318, and the congregationH5712 assembledH6950 as oneH259 manH376 beforeH413 the LORDH3068 at MizpahH4709. 2The leadersH6438 of allH3605 the peopleH5971 and allH3605 the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478 presented themselvesH3320 in the assemblyH6951 of God’sH430 peopleH5971: 400,000H702H3967H505 menH376 on footH7273, armedH8025 with swordsH2719. 3(Meanwhile the BenjamitesH1121H1144 heardH8085 thatH3588 the IsraelitesH1121H3478 had gone upH5927 to MizpahH4709.) And the IsraelitesH1121H3478 askedH559, “TellH1696 us, howH349 did thisH2063 wicked thingH7451 happenH1961?”

4So the LeviteH3881H376, the husbandH376 of the murderedH7523H559 womanH802, answeredH6030: “IH589 and my concubineH6370 cameH935 to GibeahH1390 in BenjaminH1144 to spend the nightH3885. 5And during the nightH3915, the menH1167 of GibeahH1390 rose upH6965 against meH5921 and surroundedH5437H5921 the houseH1004. They intendedH1819 to kill meH2026, but they abusedH6031 my concubineH6370, and she diedH4191. 6Then I tookH270 my concubineH6370, cut her into piecesH5408, and sent herH7971 throughoutH3605 the landH7704 of Israel’sH3478 inheritanceH5159, becauseH3588 they had committedH6213 a lewdH2154 and disgraceful actH5039 in IsraelH3478. 7BeholdH2009, allH3605 you IsraelitesH1121H3478, giveH3051 your adviceH1697 and verdictH6098 here and nowH1988.”

8Then allH3605 the peopleH5971 stoodH6965 as oneH259 manH376 and saidH559, “Not oneH3808H376 of us will returnH1980 to his tentH168H3808 or to his houseH1004. 9NowH6258 thisH2088H1697 is whatH834 we will doH6213 to GibeahH1390: We will go against itH5921 as the lot dictatesH1486. 10We will takeH3947 tenH6235 menH582 out of every hundredH3967 from allH3605 the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478, and a hundredH3967 out of every thousandH505, and a thousandH505 out of every ten thousandH7233, to supplyH3947 provisionsH6720 for the armyH5971 when they goH935 to GibeahH13871 in BenjaminH1144 to punish themH6213 for the atrocityH3605H5039 they have committedH6213 in IsraelH3478.”

11So allH3605 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 gatheredH622 as oneH259 manH376, unitedH2270 againstH413 the cityH5892. 12And the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478 sentH7971 menH582 throughoutH3605 the tribeH7626 of BenjaminH1144, sayingH559, “WhatH4100 is thisH2063 wickednessH7451 thatH834 has occurredH1961 among you? 13Hand overH5414 the wickedH1100 menH1121 of GibeahH1390 so we can put them to deathH4191 and purgeH1197 IsraelH3478 of this evilH7451.”

But the BenjamitesH1144 refusedH14H3808 to heedH8085 the voiceH6963 of their fellowH251 IsraelitesH1121H3478. 14And fromH4480 their citiesH5892 they came togetherH622 at GibeahH1390 to go outH3318 and fightH4421 againstH5973 the IsraelitesH1121H3478. 15On thatH1931 dayH3117 the BenjamitesH1121H1144 mobilizedH6485 26,000H6242H8337H505 swordsmenH8025H2719H376 from their citiesH5892, in addition toH905 the 700H7651H3967 selectH977 menH376 of GibeahH1390. 16Among allH3605 theseH2088 soldiersH5971 there were 700H7651H3967 selectH977 left-handersH334H3027H3225H376, each of whomH3605H2088 could slingH7049 a stoneH68 atH413 a hairH8185 withoutH3808 missingH2398.

17The IsraelitesH376H3478, apart fromH905 BenjaminH1144, mobilizedH6485 400,000H702H3967H505 swordsmenH8025H2719H376, each oneH3605H2088 an experienced warriorH376H4421.

18The IsraelitesH1121H3478 set outH6965, went upH5927 to BethelH1008, and inquiredH7592 of GodH430, “WhoH4310 of us shall go upH5927 firstH8462 to fightH4421 againstH5973 the BenjamitesH1121H1144?”

“Judah will be firstH3063H8462,” the LORDH3068 repliedH559.