18. They set out, went to Bethel, and inquired of God. The Israelites asked, “Who is to go first to fight for us against the Benjaminites? ”And the Lord answered, “Judah will be first.”
19. In the morning, the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah.
20. The men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took their battle positions against Gibeah.
21. The Benjaminites came out of Gibeah and slaughtered 22,000 men of Israel on the field that day.
22. But the Israelite army rallied and again took their battle positions in the same place where they positioned themselves on the first day.
23. They went up, wept before the Lord until evening, and inquired of Him: “Should we again fight against our brothers the Benjaminites? ”And the Lord answered: “Fight against them.”
24. On the second day the Israelites advanced against the Benjaminites.
25. That same day the Benjaminites came out from Gibeah to meet them and slaughtered an additional 18,000 Israelites on the field; all were armed men.
26. The whole Israelite army went to Bethel where they wept and sat before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.
27. Then the Israelites inquired of the Lord. In those days, the ark of the covenant of God was there,
28. and Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, was serving before it. The Israelites asked: “Should we again fight against our brothers the Benjaminites or should we stop? ”The Lord answered: “Fight, because I will hand them over to you tomorrow.”
29. So Israel set up an ambush around Gibeah.
30. On the third day the Israelites fought against the Benjaminites and took their battle positions against Gibeah as before.