Judges 20:18-28

18The men of Israel went to Bethel. They asked God, “Who will go first to fight Benjamin?” The Lord answered, “Judah will go first.”

19The Israelites got up early in the morning and camped at Gibeah.

20So the men of Israel went to war with the men of Benjamin. The Israelites formed their battle line facing Gibeah.

21That day the men of Benjamin came out from Gibeah. They slaughtered 22,000 of Israel’s men.

22But Israel’s troops got reinforcements. They formed their battle line where they had formed it on the first day.

23The Israelites went and cried in the presence of the Lord until evening. They asked the Lord, “Should we continue to wage war against our close relatives, the men of Benjamin?” The Lord answered, “Go fight them!”

24On the second day the Israelite troops advanced against Benjamin.

25Benjamin went out from Gibeah to meet them. This time they slaughtered 18,000 men from Israel who were armed with swords.

26Then all the men of Israel and all the troops went to Bethel. They sat there and cried in the presence of the Lord and fasted that day until evening. Then they sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.

27In those days the ark of God’s promise was at Bethel.

28(Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, served in front of it.) So the people of Israel asked the Lord, “Should we continue to wage war against our close relatives, the men of Benjamin? Or should we stop?” The Lord answered, “Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”