22. Again the sons of Israel, trusting in both strength and number, set their troops in order, in the same place where they had contended before.
23. But first they also went up and wept before the Lord, even until night. And they consulted him and said, "Should I continue to go forth, so as to contend against the sons of Benjamin, my brothers, or not?" And he responded to them, "Ascend against them, and undertake the struggle."
24. And when the sons of Israel had continued to do battle against the sons of Benjamin on the next day,
25. the sons of Benjamin burst forth from the gates of Gibeah. And meeting them, they made such a frenzied slaughter against them that they struck down eighteen thousand men who drew the sword.
26. As a result, all the sons of Israel went to the house of God, and sitting down, they wept before the Lord. And they fasted that day until evening, and they offered to him holocausts and victims of peace offerings.
27. And they inquired about their state. At that time, the ark of the covenant of the Lord was in that place.