4. Answered: I came into Gabaa of Benjamin with my wife, and there I lodged:
5. And behold the men of that city in the night beset the house wherein I was, intending to kill me, and abused my wife with an incredible fury of lust, so that at last she died.
6. And I took her and cut her in pieces, and sent the, parts into all the borders of your possession: because there never was so heinous a crime, and so great an abomination committed in Israel.
7. You are all here, O children of Israel, determine what you ought to do.
8. And all the people standing, answered as by the voice of one man: We will not return to our tents, neither shall any one of us go into his own house:
9. But this we will do in common against Gabaa:
10. We will take ten men of a hundred out of all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to bring victuals for the army, that we might fight against Gabaa of Benjamin, and render to it for its wickedness, what it deserveth.
11. And all Israel were gathered together against the city, as one man, with one mind, and one counsel:
12. And they sent messengers to all the tribe of Benjamin to say to them: Why hath so great an abomination been found among you?
13. Deliver up the men of Gabaa, that have committed this heinous crime, that they may die, and the evil may be taken away out of Israel. But they would not hearken to the proposition of their brethren the children of Israel:
14. But out of all the cities which were of their lot, they gathered themselves together into Gabaa, to aid them, and to fight against the whole people of Israel.
15. And there were found of Benjamin five and twenty thousand men that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gabaa,
16. Who were seven hundred most valiant men, fighting with the left hand as well as with the right: and slinging stones so sure that they could hit even a hair, and not miss by the stone's going on either side.
17. Of the men of Israel also, beside the children of Benjamin, were found four hundred thousand that drew swords, and were prepared to fight.
18. And they arose and came to the house of God, that is, to Silo: and they consulted God, and said: Who shall be in our army the first to go to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord answered them: Let Juda be your leader.
19. And forthwith the children of Israel rising in the morning, camped by Gabaa:
20. And going out from thence to fight against Benjamin, began to assault the city.
21. And the children of Benjamin coming out of Gabaa, slew of the children of Israel that day two and twenty thousand men.