11So all the men of Israel were united together as one man against the city.
12The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What is this awful crime that has been committed among you?"
13Now hand over the wicked men of Gibeah so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel." But the Benjaminites would not listen to their fellow Israelites.
14Instead, the Benjaminites gathered from their cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the Israelites.
15On that day, the Benjaminites mustered twenty-six thousand men armed with swords from their towns, not counting the seven hundred elite troops from Gibeah.
16Among all these were seven hundred elite troops who were left-handed, each of them able to sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand soldiers armed with swords, all experienced warriors.
18The Israelites went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They said, "Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjaminites?" The LORD replied, "Judah shall go first."
19The next morning the Israelites got up and camped near Gibeah.
20The Israelites went out to fight the Benjaminites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah.
21The Benjaminites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.
22But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day.