23. The children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening; and they asked of the Lord, saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?”The Lord said, “Go up against him.”
24. The children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.
25. Benjamin went out against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men. All these drew the sword.
26. Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until evening; then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
27. The children of Israel asked the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
28. and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?”The Lord said, “Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.”
29. Israel set ambushes all around Gibeah.
30. The children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.