Judges 20:18-28

18They set out, went to Bethel, and inquired of God. The Israelites asked, “Who is to go first to fight for us against the Benjaminites?” And the Lord answered, “Judah will be first.”

19In the morning, the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah.

20The men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took their battle positions against Gibeah.

21The Benjaminites came out of Gibeah and slaughtered twenty-two thousand men of Israel on the field that day.

22But the Israelite troops rallied and again took their battle positions in the same place where they positioned themselves on the first day.

23They went up, wept before the Lord until evening, and inquired of him, “Should we again attack our brothers the Benjaminites?” And the Lord answered, “Fight against them.”

24On the second day the Israelites advanced against the Benjaminites.

25That same day the Benjaminites came out from Gibeah to meet them and slaughtered an additional eighteen thousand Israelites on the field; all were armed.

26The whole Israelite army went to Bethel where they wept and sat before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.

27Then the Israelites inquired of the Lord. In those days, the ark of the covenant of God was there,

28and Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, was serving before it. The Israelites asked, “Should we again fight against our brothers the Benjaminites or should we stop?” The Lord answered, “Fight, because I will hand them over to you tomorrow.”