6. So I took my concubine and cut her into pieces and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s possession. For they have committed something obscene and degrading in Israel.
7. Behold, all you sons of Israel, give your advice and counsel here.”
8. Then all the people arose as one man saying, “Not one of us will go to his tent, nor will any of us return to his house.
9. But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot.
10. We will take ten men of a hundred throughout the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to supply provisions for the troops, so that when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, they may do to them according to all the disgrace that they have committed in Israel.”
11. So all the men of Israel were gathered against the town, knit together as one man.
12. And the tribes of Israel sent men through the tribe of Benjamin saying, “What is this wickedness that has taken place among you?
13. Now therefore, give up the men, the worthless fellows that are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge this evil from Israel.” But the children of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their kinsmen Bnei-Yisrael.
14. So the children of Benjamin were gathered from their towns to Gibeah, to go out to battle against Bnei-Yisrael.
15. On that day the children of Benjamin mustered 26,000 swordsmen from the towns, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered 700 chosen men.
16. Out of all these troops there were 700 chosen men that were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17. Meanwhile the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, numbered 400,000 swordsmen; all men of war.
18. Then Bnei-Yisrael arose, went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They asked, “Who is to go up first to battle for us against the children of Benjamin?” Adonai replied, “Judah first.”
19. So Bnei-Yisrael rose up in the morning and camped against Gibeah.
20. The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and arrayed for battle against Gibeah.
21. But the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and struck down 22,000 men of Israel on the field that day.
22. But the people of the men of Israel rallied their strength and arrayed for battle again in the same place where they had arrayed themselves the first day.
23. Yet Bnei-Yisrael went up and wept before Adonai until evening, then inquired of Adonai saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?” Adonai said, “Go up against him.”