12. And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that has been done among you?
13. Now therefore, give up the men [involved], the base fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and put away evil from Israel. But the Benjamites would not listen to the voice of their kinsmen the Israelites.
14. But the Benjamites out of the cities assembled at Gibeah to go out to battle against the other Israelites.
15. And the Benjamites mustered out of their cities at that time 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men.
16. Among all these were 700 chosen left-handed men; every one could sling stones at a hair and not miss.
17. And the men of Israel, other than Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.
18. The Israelites arose and went up to the house of God [Bethel] and asked counsel of God and said, Which of us shall take the lead to battle against the Benjamites? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first.
19. Then the Israelites rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.
20. And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin and set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.
21. The Benjamites came forth out of Gibeah and felled to the ground that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.
22. But the people, the men of Israel, took courage and strengthened themselves and again set their battle line in the same place where they formed it the first day.
23. And the Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until evening and asked of the Lord, Shall we go up again to battle against our brethren the Benjamites? And the Lord said, Go up against them.
24. So the Israelites came near against the Benjamites the second day.
25. And Benjamin went forth out of Gibeah against them the second day and felled to the ground the Israelites again, 18,000 men, all of whom were swordsmen.
26. Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up and came to the house of God [Bethel] and wept; and 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 Israelites inquired of the Lord–for the ark of the covenant of God was there [at Bethel] in those days,
28. And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days–saying, Shall we yet again go out to battle against our brethren the Benjamites or shall we quit? And the Lord said, Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.