14 The Benjaminites left their own cities and met at Gibeah. They went to fight against the Israelites.
15 In only one day the Benjaminites got 26,000 soldiers together. These soldiers were trained with swords. They also had 700 chosen men from Gibeah.
16 Seven hundred of these trained soldiers were left-handed. Each of these left-handed soldiers could sling a stone at a hair and not miss!
17 The Israelites, except for the Benjaminites, gathered 400,000 fighting men. These 400,000 men used swords and were trained soldiers.
18 The Israelites went up to the city of Bethel. They asked God, “Which tribe shall be first to attack the Benjaminites?”The Lord answered, “Judah shall go first.”
19 The next morning the Israelites got up. They made a camp near Gibeah.
20 Then the men of Israel went out to fight the Benjaminites. The Israelites got into battle position at Gibeah.