12–13  The Israelite tribes sent messengers throughout the tribe of Ben-jamin saying, “What’s the meaning of this outrage that took place among you? Surrender the men right here and now, these hell-raisers of Gibeah. We’ll put them to death and burn the evil out of Israel.”

13–16  But they wouldn’t do it. The Benjaminites refused to listen to their brothers, the People of Israel. Instead they raised an army from all their cities and rallied at Gibeah to go to war against the People of Israel. In no time at all they had recruited from their cities twenty-six divisions of sword-wielding infantry. From Gibeah they got seven hundred hand-picked fighters, the best. There were another seven hundred supermarksmen who were ambidextrous—they could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

17  The men of Israel, excluding Ben-jamin, mobilized four hundred divisions of sword-wielding fighting men.

18  They set out and went to Bethel to inquire of God. The People of Israel said, “Who of us shall be first to go into battle with the Benjaminites?”

God said, “Judah goes first.”

19–21  The People of Israel got up the next morning and camped before Gibeah. The army of Israel marched out against Ben-jamin and took up their positions, ready to attack Gibeah.