14. Instead, they came from their towns and gathered at Gibeah to fight the Israelites.
15. In all, 26,000 of their warriors armed with swords arrived in Gibeah to join the 700 elite troops who lived there.
16. Among Benjamin’s elite troops, 700 were left-handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target within a hairsbreadth without missing.
17. Israel had 400,000 experienced soldiers armed with swords, not counting Benjamin’s warriors.
18. Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?”The lord answered, “Judah is to go first.”
19. So the Israelites left early the next morning and camped near Gibeah.
20. Then they advanced toward Gibeah to attack the men of Benjamin.