¹⁷ He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place!^(A) This is none other than the house of God;^(B) this is the gate of heaven.”

²² and^[a] this stone that I have set up as a pillar^(A) will be God’s house,^(B) and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.^(C)”

²³ You are now under a curse:^(A) You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

³¹ They continued to use the idol Micah had made,^(A) all the time the house of God^(B) was in Shiloh.^(C)

¹⁸ The Israelites went up to Bethel^[a](A) and inquired of God.^(B) They said, “Who of us is to go up first^(C) to fight^(D) against the Benjamites?”

The Lord replied, “Judah^(E) shall go first.”

²⁶ Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord.^(A) They fasted^(B) that day until evening and presented burnt offerings^(C) and fellowship offerings^(D) to the Lord.^(E)

² The people went to Bethel,^[a] where they sat before God until evening, raising their voices and weeping bitterly.