2. The leaders of all the people and of all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 armed foot soldiers.
3. The Benjaminites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.The Israelites asked, “Tell us, how did this outrage occur? ”
4. The Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: “I went to Gibeah in Benjamin with my concubine to spend the night.
5. Citizens of Gibeah ganged up on me and surrounded the house at night. They intended to kill me, but they raped my concubine, and she died.
6. Then I took my concubine and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout Israel’s territory, because they committed a horrible shame in Israel.
7. Look, all of you are Israelites. Give your judgment and verdict here and now.”
8. Then all the people stood united and said, “None of us will go to his tent or return to his house.
9. Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go against it by lot.
10. We will take 10 men out of every 100 from all the tribes of Israel, and 100 out of every 1,000, and 1,000 out of every 10,000 to get provisions for the people when they go to Gibeah in Benjamin to punish them for all the horror they did in Israel.”
11. So all the men of Israel gathered united against the city.
12. Then the tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this outrage that has occurred among you?
13. Hand over the perverted men in Gibeah so we can put them to death and eradicate evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not obey their fellow Israelites.
14. Instead, the Benjaminites gathered together from their cities to Gibeah to go out and fight against the Israelites.
15. On that day the Benjaminites rallied 26,000 armed men from their cities, besides 700 choice men rallied by the inhabitants of Gibeah.
16. There were 700 choice men who were left-handed among all these people; all could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17. The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, rallied 400,000 armed men, every one an experienced warrior.
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.