¹⁸ The Israelites proceeded to go up to Bethel, where they inquired of God, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the Benjaminites?” And the Lord answered, “Judah shall go up first.”

¹⁹ Then the Israelites got up in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. ²⁰ The Israelites went out to battle against Benjamin, and the Israelites drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. ²¹ The Benjaminites came out of Gibeah and struck down on that day twenty-two thousand of the Israelites. ^23 [a]The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until the evening, and they inquired of the Lord, “Shall we again draw near to battle against our kinsfolk the Benjaminites?” And the Lord said, “Go up against them.” ²² The Israelites strengthened themselves and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day.