Judges 20:15-27

¹⁵That day a total of twenty-six thousand men armed with swords were called up from the towns of Benjamin, in addition to the seven hundred seasoned warriors from Gibeah.

¹⁶Making up part of this army were seven hundred experienced soldiers who used their left hands. All of them could fire a slingshot and not miss by even a hair's breadth.

¹⁷The Israelite army (excluding Benjamin) numbered four hundred thousand seasoned warriors, all armed with swords.

¹⁸The Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which ones of us should be the first to go and fight the Benjamites?” “Judah is to go first,” the Lord replied.

¹⁹The next morning the Israelites left and set up their camp near Gibeah.

²⁰Then they marched out for battle with the army of Benjamin, taking up their positions to attack Gibeah.

²¹But the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and slaughtered twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.

²²But the Israelites encouraged one other to be confident, and they took up the same positions they had on the first day.

²³The Israelites went and cried before the Lord until the evening and asked, “Should we go and attack the Benjamites again, our relatives?” “Go and attack them,” the Lord replied.

²⁴So the second day they advanced to attack the army of Benjamin.

²⁵However, Benjamites came out of Gibeah once more and slaughtered eighteen thousand Israelites, all armed with swords.

²⁶Then all the Israelites and all their army went to Bethel, and sat crying there before the Lord. That day they fasted until evening and gave burnt offerings and friendship offerings to the Lord.

²⁷The Israelites asked the Lord what to do. At that time the Ark of God's Agreement was kept there.