Judges 20:18-28

¹⁸ Now the sons of Israel arose , went up to Bethel , and inquired of God and said , "Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin ?" Then the Lord said , "Judah shall go up first ." ¹⁹ So the sons of Israel arose in the morning and camped against Gibeah . ²⁰ The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin , and the men of Israel arrayed for battle against them at Gibeah . ²¹ Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and felled to the ground on that day 22,000 e e men of Israel . ²² But the people , the men of Israel , encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again in the place where e they had arrayed themselves the first day . ²³ The sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening , and inquired of the Lord , saying , "Shall we again draw near for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin ?" And the Lord said , "Go up against him." ²⁴ Then the sons of Israel came against the sons of Benjamin the second day . ²⁵ Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah the second day and felled to the ground again 18,000 e e men of the sons of Israel ; all these drew the sword .

²⁶ Then all the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel and wept ; thus they remained there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening . And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord . ²⁷ The sons of Israel inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days , ²⁸ and Phinehas the son of Eleazar , Aaron's son , stood before it to minister in those days ), saying , "Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin , or shall I cease ?" And the Lord said , "Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand ."