12  And the tribes of Israel sent men to all the families of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that has been done among you? 13  And now give up the men, the sons of Belial, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel. 14  And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities of Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. 15  And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities, twenty-six thousand men that drew sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men. 16  Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handed; all these slang stones at a hair breadth, and missed not. 17  And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.

18  And the children of Israel arose and went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And Jehovah said, Judah first. 19  And the children of Israel rose up in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. 20  And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.