¹⁸ The people of Israel arose and went up to ^(A)Bethel and inquired of God, ^(B)“Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, ^(C)“Judah shall go up first.”

^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.”

²⁶ Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to ^(A)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 ^(B)(for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, ²⁸ and ^(C)Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ^(D)ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?” And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”

^29 (E)So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah.