17 Israel gathered 400,000 men together. They were carrying swords. All of them were fighting men. That number didn't include the tribe of Benjamin.
18 The people of Israel went up to Bethel. There they spoke to God. They asked him, "Who will go up first and fight for us against the people of Benjamin?" The Lord answered, "The tribe of Judah will go first."
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."