Judges 20:1-18

1Then all Bnei-Yisrael went out and was assembled as one man, from Dan to Beersheba with the land of Gilead, before Adonai at Mizpah.

2The chiefs of the people and of the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God—400,000 foot soldiers armed with swords.

3Now the children of Benjamin heard that Bnei-Yisrael had gone up to Mizpah. Bnei-Yisrael asked, “Tell us, how did this wickedness take place?”

4So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to Gibeah of Benjamin to spend the night.

5Then men of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house over me at night. They intended to kill me, but instead, they raped my concubine until she died.

6So I took my concubine and cut her into pieces and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s possession. For they have committed something obscene and degrading in Israel.

7Behold, all you sons of Israel, give 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 what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot.

10We will take ten men of a hundred throughout the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to supply provisions for the troops, so that when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, they may do to them according to all the disgrace that they have committed in Israel.”

11So all the men of Israel were gathered against the town, knit together as one man.

12And the tribes of Israel sent men through the tribe of Benjamin saying, “What is this wickedness that has taken place among you?

13Now therefore, give up the men, the worthless fellows that are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge this evil from Israel.” But the children of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their kinsmen Bnei-Yisrael.

14So the children of Benjamin were gathered from their towns to Gibeah, to go out to battle against Bnei-Yisrael.

15On that day the children of Benjamin mustered 26,000 swordsmen from the towns, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered 700 chosen men.

16Out of all these troops there were 700 chosen men that were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

17Meanwhile the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, numbered 400,000 swordsmen; all men of war.

18Then Bnei-Yisrael arose, went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They asked, “Who is to go up first to battle for us against the children of Benjamin?” Adonai replied, “Judah first.”