Judges 20:20–32

²⁰The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arrayed for battle against them at Gibeah.

²¹Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and ^1afelled to the ground on that day 22,000 men of Israel.

²²But the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again in the place where they had arrayed themselves the first day.

^23aThe sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and ^binquired 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.”

²⁴Then the sons of Israel ¹came against the sons of Benjamin the second day.

²⁵Benjamin went out ¹against them from Gibeah the second day and ²felled to the ground again 18,000 men of the sons of Israel; all these drew the sword.

²⁶Then ^aall 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.

²⁷The sons of Israel ^ainquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

²⁸and 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, ^afor tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”

^29aSo Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah.

³⁰The sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as at other times.

^31aThe sons of Benjamin went out ¹against the people and were drawn away from the city, and they began to strike ²and kill some of the people as at other times, on the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

³²The sons of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.” But the sons of Israel said, “Let us flee that we may draw them away from the city to the highways.”