20. The men of Israel marched out to do battle with Benjamin and drew up in battle array against them at Gibeah.
21. The Benjaminites marched out of Gibeah that day and felled twenty-two thousand men of Israel.
22. But the army of the men of Israel took courage and again drew up for battle in the place where they had drawn up on the previous day.
23. Then the Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until evening. “Shall I again engage my brother Benjamin in battle?” they asked the Lord; and the Lord answered: Attack!
24. When the Israelites drew near to the Benjaminites on the second day,
25. Benjamin marched out of Gibeah against them again and felled eighteen thousand Israelites, all of them swordsmen.
26. So the entire Israelite army went up and entered Bethel, where they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and communion offerings before the Lord.
27. The Israelites consulted the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of the Lord was there in those days,
28. and Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, was standing in his presence in those days), and asked, “Shall I again go out to battle with my brother Benjamin, or shall I stop?” The Lord said: Attack! For tomorrow I will deliver him into your power.