Judges 20:9-28

New International Version

⁹ But now this is what we’ll do to Gibeah: We’ll go up against it in the order decided by casting lots.^{(A) 10} We’ll take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred from a thousand, and a thousand from ten thousand, to get provisions for the army. Then, when the army arrives at Gibeah^[a] in Benjamin, it can give them what they deserve for this outrageous act done in Israel.” ¹¹ So all the Israelites got together and united as one against the city.^(B)

¹² The tribes of Israel sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What about this awful crime that was committed among you?^{(C) 13} Now turn those wicked men^(D) of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel.^(E)”

But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites. ¹⁴ From their towns they came together at Gibeah to fight against the Israelites. ¹⁵ At once the Benjamites mobilized twenty-six thousand swordsmen from their towns, in addition to seven hundred able young men from those living in Gibeah. ¹⁶ Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed,^(F) each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

¹⁷ Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle.

¹⁸ The Israelites went up to Bethel^[b](G) and inquired of God.^(H) They said, “Who of us is to go up first^(I) to fight^(J) against the Benjamites?”

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

¹⁹ The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah. ²⁰ The Israelites went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah. ²¹ The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites^(L) on the battlefield that day. ²² But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day. ²³ The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord^(M) until evening,^(N) and they inquired of the Lord.^(O) They said, “Shall we go up again to fight^(P) against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites?”

The Lord answered, “Go up against them.”

²⁴ Then the Israelites drew near to Benjamin the second day. ²⁵ This time, when the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites,^(Q) all of them armed with swords.

²⁶ Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord.^(R) They fasted^(S) that day until evening and presented burnt offerings^(T) and fellowship offerings^(U) to the Lord.^{(V) 27} And the Israelites inquired of the Lord.^(W) (In those days the ark of the covenant of God^(X) was there, ²⁸ with Phinehas son of Eleazar,^(Y) the son of Aaron, ministering before it.)^(Z) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?”

The Lord responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.^(AA)”