13
Now therefore, deliver us the men, the children of Belial, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and put away evil from Israel." But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren, the children of Israel;
14
but the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah to go out to battle against the children of Israel.
15
And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
16
Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men, lefthanded. Every one could sling stones at a hairbreadth and not miss.
17
And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men who drew the sword. All these were men of war.
18
And the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God and said, "Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin?" And the LORD said, "Judah shall go up first."
19
And the children of Israel rose up in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.
20
And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.
21
And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
22
And the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and set up again in battle array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.
23
And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin, my brother?" And the LORD said, "Go up against him."