12. The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin to say, “What is this evil that has occurred among you?
13. Now give up the men, the scoundrels who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and thus purge the evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites refused to listen to their kindred, the Israelites.
14. Instead, the Benjaminites assembled from their cities at Gibeah, to march out to battle with the Israelites.
15. On that day the Benjaminites mustered from their cities twenty-six thousand swordsmen, in addition to the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered seven hundred picked men
16. who were left-handed, every one of them able to sling a stone at a hair without missing.
17. The men of Israel, without Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them warriors.
18. They went up to Bethel and consulted God. When the Israelites asked, “Who shall go up first for us to do battle with the Benjaminites?” the Lord said: Judah first.
19. The Israelites rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.