Judges 20:14-31

14Instead, the 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 1sons of Benjamin were 2counted, twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah who were 3counted, seven hundred choice men. 16Out of all these people seven hundred 4choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

17Then the men of Israel besides Benjamin were 5counted, four hundred thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were men of war.

18Now the sons of Israel set out, went up to Bethel, and 6inquired 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.”

19So the sons of Israel got up in the morning and camped against Gibeah. 20The men of Israel went to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel lined up for battle against them at Gibeah. 21Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and 78struck to the ground on that day twenty-two thousand men of Israel. 22But the people, the men of Israel, showed themselves courageous and lined up for battle again in the place where they had lined themselves up on the first day. 23And 9the sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and 10inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall we again advance for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against him.”

24So the sons of Israel 11came against the sons of Benjamin on the second day. 25And Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah the second day and struck to the ground again eighteen thousand men of the sons of Israel; all of these drew the sword. 26Then 12all the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel, and they wept and remained there before the Lord, and fasted that day until evening. And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 27And the sons of Israel 13inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, Aaron’s son, stood before it to minister in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I stop?” And the Lord said, “Go up, 14for tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”

2915So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. 30And the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and lined up against Gibeah as at other times. 3116When the sons of Benjamin went out against the people, they were lured away from the city, and they began to strike and kill some of the people as at other times, on the roads (one of which goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah), and in the field, about thirty men of Israel.