9
But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot.
10
We will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the troops, who are going to repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the disgrace that they have done in Israel."
11
So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one.
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The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What crime is this that has been committed among you?
13
Now then, hand over those scoundrels in Gibeah, so that we may put them to death, and purge the evil from Israel." But the Benjaminites would not listen to their kinsfolk, the Israelites.
14
The Benjaminites came together out of the towns to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the Israelites.
15
On that day the Benjaminites mustered twenty-six thousand armed men from their towns, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah.
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Of all this force, there were seven hundred picked men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair, and not miss.
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And the Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand armed men, all of them warriors.
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The Israelites proceeded to go up to Bethel, where they inquired of God, "Which of us shall go up first to battle against the Benjaminites?" And the Lord answered, "Judah shall go up first."
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Then the Israelites got up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
20
The Israelites went out to battle against Benjamin; and the Israelites drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah.
21
The Benjaminites came out of Gibeah, and struck down on that day twenty-two thousand of the Israelites.
22
The Israelites took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day.
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The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until the evening; and they inquired of the Lord, "Shall we again draw near to battle against our kinsfolk the Benjaminites?" And the Lord said, "Go up against them."
24
So the Israelites advanced against the Benjaminites the second day.
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Benjamin moved out against them from Gibeah the second day, and struck down eighteen thousand of the Israelites, all of them armed men.
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Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went back to Bethel and wept, sitting there before the Lord; they fasted that day until evening. Then they offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of well-being before the Lord.
27
And the Israelites inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
28
and Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, "Shall we go out once more to battle against our kinsfolk the Benjaminites, or shall we desist?" The Lord answered, "Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand."
29
So Israel stationed men in ambush around Gibeah.