12. And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that has been done among you?
13. Now therefore, give up the men [involved], the base fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and put away evil from Israel. But the Benjamites would not listen to the voice of their kinsmen the Israelites.
14. But the Benjamites out of the cities assembled at Gibeah to go out to battle against the other Israelites.
15. And the Benjamites mustered out of their cities at that time 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men.
16. Among all these were 700 chosen left-handed men; every one could sling stones at a hair and not miss.
17. And the men of Israel, other than Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.
18. The Israelites arose and went up to the house of God [Bethel] and asked counsel of God and said, Which of us shall take the lead to battle against the Benjamites? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first.
19. Then the Israelites rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.