23 (A)And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, “Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against them.”

24 So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin (B)went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who (C)drew the sword. 26 Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to (D)Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 27 And the people of Israel inquired of the Lord (E)(for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

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23 The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord(A) until evening,(B) and they inquired of the Lord.(C) They said, “Shall we go up again to fight(D) 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,(E) 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.(F) They fasted(G) that day until evening and presented burnt offerings(H) and fellowship offerings(I) to the Lord.(J) 27 And the Israelites inquired of the Lord.(K) (In those days the ark of the covenant of God(L) was there,

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