26. Then all the men of Israel and all the troops went to Bethel. They sat there and cried in the presence of the Lord and fasted that day until evening. Then they sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.
27. In those days the ark of God’s promise was at Bethel.
28. (Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, served in front of it.) So the people of Israel asked the Lord, “Should we continue to wage war against our close relatives, the men of Benjamin? Or should we stop?”The Lord answered, “Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”
29. Then Israel placed troops in ambush around Gibeah.
30. On the third day the men of Israel went to fight the men of Benjamin. They formed their battle line facing Gibeah as they did before.