19. The next morning the people of Israel got up. They set up camp near Gibeah.
20. The men of Israel went out to fight against the men of Benjamin. They took up their battle positions against them at Gibeah.
21. The men of Benjamin came out of Gibeah. They killed 22,000 men of Israel on the field of battle that day.
22. But the men of Israel cheered each other on. They again took up their positions in the places where they had been the first day.
23. The men of Israel went and sobbed in the sight of the Lord until evening. They spoke to the Lord. They asked, "Should we go up again to fight against the men of Benjamin? They are our fellow Israelites." The Lord answered, "Go up and fight against them."
24. The men of Israel came near the men of Benjamin on the second day.
25. The men of Benjamin came out from Gibeah to oppose them. That time they killed 18,000 more men of Israel. All of the men who died had been carrying swords.
26. Then all of the people of Israel went up to Bethel. They sat there and sobbed in the sight of the Lord. They didn't eat anything that day until evening. Then they brought burnt offerings and friendship offerings to the Lord.
27. Again the people of Israel spoke to the Lord. In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there.