Judges 20:1-18

1Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at 1Mizpah. 2The 2chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 foot 3soldiers 4who drew the sword. 3(Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wickedness take place?” 4So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin. 5But the 5men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me; instead, they 6ravished my concubine so that she died. 6And I 7took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance; for 8they have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel. 7Behold, all you sons of Israel, 9give your advice and counsel here.”

8Then all the people arose as one man, saying, “Not one of us will go to his tent, nor will any of us return to his house. 9But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up against it by lot. 10And we will take 10 men out of 100 throughout the tribes of Israel, and 100 out of 1,000, and 1,000 out of 10,000 to 10supply food for the people, that when they come to 11Gibeah of Benjamin, they may 12punish them for all the disgraceful acts that they have committed in Israel.” 11Thus all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, united as one man.

12Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire 13tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has taken place among you? 13Now then, deliver up the men, the 1415worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and 16remove this wickedness from Israel.” But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel. 14The sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the sons of Israel. 15From the cities on that day the 17sons of Benjamin were 18numbered, 26,000 men who draw the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah who were 19numbered, 700 choice men. 16Out of all these people 700 20choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

17Then the men of Israel besides Benjamin were 21numbered, 400,000 men who draw the sword; all these were men of war.

18Now the sons of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and 22inquired of God and said, “Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?” Then the Lord said, “Judah shall go up first.”