Judges 20:11-19

11So all the Israelites were completely united, and they gathered together to attack the town.

12The Israelites sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What a terrible thing has been done among you!

13Give up those evil men, those troublemakers from Gibeah, so we can execute them and purge Israel of this evil.” But the people of Benjamin would not listen.

14Instead, they came from their towns and gathered at Gibeah to fight the Israelites.

15In all, 26,000 of their warriors armed with swords arrived in Gibeah to join the 700 elite troops who lived there.

16Among Benjamin’s elite troops, 700 were left-handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target within a hairsbreadth without missing.

17Israel had 400,000 experienced soldiers armed with swords, not counting Benjamin’s warriors.

18Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?” The Lord answered, “Judah is to go first.”

19So the Israelites left early the next morning and camped near Gibeah.