16. Among all this people were seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair’s breadth and not miss.
17. Now besides Benjamin, the men of Israel numbered four hundred thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were men of war.
18. Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?”The Lord said, “Judah first!”
19. So the children of Israel rose 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 battle array to fight against them at Gibeah.
21. Then the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites.
22. And the people, that is, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and again formed the battle line at the place where they had put themselves in array on the first day.
23. Then the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and asked counsel of the Lord, saying, “Shall I again draw near for battle against the children of my brother Benjamin?”And the Lord said, “Go up against him.”
24. So the children of Israel approached the children of Benjamin on the second day.
25. And Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah on the second day, and cut down to the ground eighteen thousand more of the children of Israel; all these drew the sword.
26. Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
27. So the children of Israel inquired of the Lord (the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
28. and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?”And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”
29. Then Israel set men in ambush all around Gibeah.