Entonces salieron todos los hijos de Israel, desde Dan hasta Beerseba, incluyendo la tierra de Galaad, y la congregación se reunió al SEÑOR como un solo hombre en Mizpa^a. 2 Y los jefes¹ de todo el pueblo, de todas las tribus de Israel, tomaron su puesto en la asamblea del pueblo de Dios, cuatrocientos mil soldados^2a de a pie que sacaban espada. 3 (Y los hijos de Benjamín oyeron que los hijos de Israel habían subido a Mizpa.) Y los hijos de Israel dijeron: Decidnos, ¿cómo ocurrió esta maldad? 4 Entonces el levita, marido de la mujer que había sido asesinada, respondió y dijo: Vine con mi concubina a pasar la noche en Guibeá de Benjamín. 5 Mas los hombres de Guibeá se levantaron contra mí, y rodearon la casa por la noche por causa mía^a. Tenían intención de matarme; pero en vez de esto, violaron a mi concubina de tal manera que murió^b. 6 Tomé entonces a mi concubina, la corté en pedazos y la envié por todo el territorio de la heredad de Israel^a; porque han cometido lascivia e infamia en Israel^b. 7 He aquí, todos vosotros, hijos de Israel, dad aquí vuestro parecer y consejo^a.

8 Entonces todo el pueblo se levantó como un solo hombre, diciendo: Ninguno de nosotros irá a su tienda, ni ninguno de nosotros volverá a su casa. 9 Y ahora esto es lo que haremos a Guibeá: subiremos contra la ciudad¹ por sorteo; 10 tomaremos diez hombres de cada cien por todas las tribus de Israel, y cien de cada mil, y mil de cada diez mil para proveer¹ víveres para el pueblo, para que cuando vayan a Guibeá² de Benjamín los castiguen³ por toda la infamia que han cometido en Israel. 11 Así se juntaron contra la ciudad todos los hombres de Israel, como un solo hombre.

12 Entonces las tribus de Israel enviaron hombres por toda la tribu¹ de Benjamín, diciendo: ¿Qué es esta infamia que se ha cometido entre vosotros? 13 Ahora pues, entregad a los hombres, los hombres perversos^1a en Guibeá, para que les demos muerte y quitemos esta infamia de Israel^b. Pero los hijos de Benjamín no quisieron escuchar la voz de sus hermanos, los hijos de Israel. 14 Y los hijos de Benjamín, de sus¹ ciudades, se reunieron en Guibeá para salir a combatir contra los hijos de Israel. 15 Y de las ciudades fueron contados¹ en aquel día, de los hijos de Benjamín, veintiséis mil hombres que sacaban espada^a, además de los habitantes de Guibeá que fueron contados², setecientos hombres escogidos. 16 De toda esta gente, setecientos hombres escogidos eran zurdos^a; capaces cada uno de lanzar con la honda una piedra a un cabello sin errar.

17 Entonces los hombres de Israel, fuera de Benjamín, fueron contados¹, cuatrocientos mil hombres que sacaban espada; todos estos eran hombres de guerra. 18 Los hijos de Israel se levantaron, subieron a Betel, y consultaron a Dios^a, y dijeron: ¿Quién de nosotros subirá primero a pelear contra los hijos de Benjamín? Entonces el SEÑOR dijo: Judá subirá primero.

19 Los hijos de Israel se levantaron por la mañana y acamparon contra Guibeá. 20 Y los hombres de Israel salieron a combatir contra Benjamín, y los hombres de Israel se pusieron en orden de batalla contra ellos en Guibeá. 21 Pero los hijos de Benjamín salieron de Guibeá y derribaron¹ por tierra en aquel día veintidós mil hombres de Israel^a. 22 Pero el pueblo, los hombres de Israel, se reanimaron, y se pusieron otra vez en orden de batalla en el lugar donde se habían puesto el primer día. 23 Y subieron los hijos de Israel y lloraron delante del SEÑOR hasta la noche^a, y consultaron al SEÑOR^b, diciendo: ¿Nos acercaremos otra vez para combatir contra los hijos de mi hermano Benjamín? Y el SEÑOR dijo: Subid contra él.

24 Entonces los hijos de Israel fueron contra¹ los hijos de Benjamín el segundo día. 25 Y salió Benjamín de Guibeá contra¹ ellos el segundo día y otra vez hizo caer² dieciocho mil hombres de los hijos de Israel; todosestos sacaban espada. 26 Todos los hijos de Israel y todo el pueblo subieron y vinieron a Betel y lloraron^a; y permanecieron allí delante del SEÑOR y ayunaron ese día hasta la noche. Y ofrecieron holocaustos y ofrendas de paz delante del SEÑOR. 27 Y consultaron los hijos de Israel al SEÑOR^a (porque el arca del pacto de Dios estaba allí en aquellos días, 28 y Finees, hijo de Eleazar, hijo de Aarón, estaba delante de ella para ministrar en aquellos días), diciendo: ¿Volveré a salir otra vez a combatir contra los hijos de mi hermano Benjamín, o desistiré? Y el SEÑOR dijo: Subid, porque mañana lo entregaré en tu mano^a.

29 Puso, pues, Israel emboscadas alrededor de Guibeá^a. 30 Los hijos de Israel subieron contra los hijos de Benjamín al tercer día, y se pusieron en orden de batalla contra Guibeá como las otras veces. 31 Y salieron los hijos de Benjamín contra¹ el pueblo, siendo alejados de la ciudad^a; y comenzaron como las otras veces a herir y a matar a algunos del pueblo por los caminos, uno de los cuales sube a Betel y el otro a Guibeá, en campo abierto; mataron a unos treinta hombres de Israel. 32 Y los hijos de Benjamín dijeron: Están derrotados delante de nosotros como la primera vez. Pero los hijos de Israel dijeron: Huyamos para que los alejemos de la ciudad hacia los caminos. 33 Entonces todos los hombres de Israel se levantaron de sus puestos y se pusieron en orden de batalla en Baal-tamar; y los emboscados de Israel salieron de sus puestos^a, de Maareh-geba. 34 Cuando diez mil hombres escogidos de todo Israel fueron contra Guibeá, la batalla se hizo reñida¹; pero Benjamín no sabía² que el desastre³ se le acercaba^4a. 35 Y el SEÑOR hirió a Benjamín delante de Israel, de modo que los hijos de Israel destruyeron ese día a veinticinco mil cien hombres de Benjamín, todos los que¹ sacaban espada.

36 Y los hijos de Benjamín vieron que estaban derrotados¹. Cuando los hombres de Israel cedieron terreno² a Benjamín porque confiaban en las emboscadas que habían puesto contra Guibeá^a, 37 los emboscados se apresuraron y se lanzaron contra Guibeá, y¹ se desplegaron e hirieron toda la ciudad a filo de espada^a. 38 Y fue la señal convenida entre los hombres de Israel y los emboscados, que ellos harían que se levantara una gran nube de humo de la ciudad^a. 39 Entonces los hombres de Israel regresaron a la batalla, y Benjamín empezó a herir y matar a unos treinta hombres de Israel, porque dijeron: Ciertamente están derrotados¹ delante de nosotros como en la primera batalla^a. 40 Pero cuando la nube de humo como columna empezó a levantarse de la ciudad, Benjamín miró tras sí; y he aquí, de toda la ciudad subía humo al cielo^a. 41 Entonces los hombres de Israel se volvieron, y los hombres de Benjamín se aterrorizaron porque vieron que el desastre¹ se les acercaba^2a. 42 Por tanto, volvieron la espalda ante los hombres de Israel en dirección al desierto, pero la batalla los alcanzó, y los que salían de las ciudades los destruían en medio de ellos^a. 43 Cercaron a Benjamín, lo persiguieron sin tregua y lo aplastaron frente a Guibeá^a, hacia el oriente¹. 44 Cayeron dieciocho mil hombres de Benjamín; todos ellos eran valientes guerreros. 45 Y los demás¹ se volvieron y huyeron al desierto, a la peña de Rimón^a, pero capturaron² a cinco mil de ellos en los caminos, y a otros los persiguieron muy de cerca hasta Gidom y mataron³ a dos mil de ellos. 46 El total de los de Benjamín que cayeron aquel día fue de veinticinco mil hombres que sacaban espada, todos ellos valientes guerreros. 47 Pero seiscientos hombres se volvieron y huyeron al desierto, a la peña de Rimón, y permanecieron en la peña de Rimón cuatro meses. 48 Entonces los hombres de Israel se volvieron contra los hijos de Benjamín y los hirieron a filo de espada, a toda¹ la ciudad, así como el ganado y todo lo que encontraron; también prendieron fuego a todas las ciudades que hallaron.

Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one person to the LORD at ^aMizpah. 2 And the ¹leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot ²soldiers ^awho drew the sword. 3 (Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wickedness take place?” 4 So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin. 5 But the ^1acitizens of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night, ²threatening me. They intended to kill me; instead, they ^braped my concubine so that she died. 6 And I ^atook hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance; for ^bthey have committed an outrageous sin and vile act in Israel. 7 Behold, all you sons of Israel, ^agive your ¹response and advice here.”

8 Then all the people rose up as one person, saying, “Not one of us will go to his tent, nor will any of us go home. 9 But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up against it by lot. 10 And we will take ten men out of a hundred throughout the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand to ¹supply provisions for the people, so that when they come to ²Gibeah of Benjamin, they may ³punish them for all the vile sin that they have committed in Israel.” 11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, ¹united as one man.

12 Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire ¹tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has taken place among you? 13 Now then, turn over the men, the ^1aworthless men who are in Gibeah, so that we may put them to death and ^bremove this wickedness from Israel.” But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel. 14 Instead, the sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the sons of Israel. 15 From the cities on that day the ^asons of Benjamin were ¹counted, twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah who were ²counted, seven hundred choice men. 16 Out of all these people seven hundred ^achoice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

17 Then the men of Israel besides Benjamin were ¹counted, four hundred thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were men of war.

18 Now the sons of Israel set out, went up to Bethel, and ^ainquired of God and said, “Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?” Then the LORD said, “Judah shall go up first.”

19 So the sons of Israel got up in the morning and camped against Gibeah. 20 The men of Israel went to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel lined up for battle against them at Gibeah. 21 Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and ^1astruck to the ground on that day twenty-two thousand men of Israel. 22 But the people, the men of Israel, showed themselves courageous and lined up for battle again in the place where they had lined themselves up on the first day. 23 And ^athe sons of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and ^binquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall we again advance for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Go up against him.”

24 So the sons of Israel ¹came against the sons of Benjamin on the second day. 25 And Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah the second day and struck to the ground again eighteen thousand men of the sons of Israel; all of these drew the sword. 26 Then ^aall the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel, and they wept and remained there before the LORD, and fasted that day until evening. And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 27 And the sons of Israel ^ainquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, Aaron’s son, stood before it to minister in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I stop?” And the LORD said, “Go up, ^afor tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”

29 ^aSo Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. 30 And the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and lined up against Gibeah as at other times. 31 ^aWhen the sons of Benjamin went out against the people, they were lured away from the city, and they began to strike and kill some of the people as at other times, on the roads (one of which goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah), and in the field, about thirty men of Israel. 32 And the sons of Benjamin said, “They are defeated before us, like the first time.” But the sons of Israel said, “Let’s flee, so that we may draw them away from the city to the roads.” 33 Then all the men of Israel rose from their place and lined up at Baal-tamar; ^aand the men of Israel in ambush charged from their place, from Maareh-geba. 34 When ten thousand choice men from all Israel came against Gibeah, the battle became ¹fierce; ^abut ²Benjamin did not know that disaster was ³close to them. 35 And the LORD struck Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that ¹day, all who drew the sword.

36 So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were ¹defeated. ^aWhen the men of Israel gave ²ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah, 37 ^athe men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush also deployed and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now the agreed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was ^athat they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city. 39 Then the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, ^afor they said, “Undoubtedly they are ¹defeated before us, as in the first battle.” 40 But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, Benjamin looked ^abehind them; and behold, the entire city was going up in smoke to heaven. 41 Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were terrified; for they saw that ^adisaster was ¹close to them. 42 Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel to flee in the ^adirection of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them while those who attacked from the cities were annihilating them in the midst of them. 43 ^aThey surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest, and trampled them down opposite Gibeah toward the ¹east. 44 So eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all of these were valiant men. 45 ¹The rest turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of ^aRimmon, but they ²caught five thousand of them on the roads and overtook them ³at Gidom, and ⁴killed two thousand of them. 46 So all those of Benjamin who fell that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were valiant men. 47 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon; and they remained at the rock of Rimmon for four months. 48 The men of Israel then turned back against the sons of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city with the cattle and all that they found; they also set on fire all the cities which they found.

Then all the sons of Israel from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, including the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at ^aMizpah. 2 The chiefs of all the people of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand men on foot ^awho drew the sword. 3 (Now the Benjamites in whose territory the crime was committed heard that the other tribes of the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, “How did this evil thing happen?” 4 So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, replied, “I had come with my concubine to spend the night in Gibeah, a town which belongs to the tribe of Benjamin. 5 But the ^amen of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me, but instead they ^braped my concubine so brutally that she died. 6 So I ^atook my concubine and cut her corpse in pieces and sent her body parts throughout the land of the inheritance of Israel; for ^bthe men of Gibeah have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel. 7 Now then, all you sons of Israel, all of you, ^agive your advice and counsel here regarding what should be done.”

8 Then all the people stood unified as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his home until this is settled. 9 But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it, 10 and we will take ten men out of a hundred throughout the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand to bring provisions for the men, so that when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, they may punish them for all the despicable acts which they have committed in Israel.” 11 So all the men of Israel assembled against the city, united as one man.

12 Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this evil thing that has been done among you? 13 Now therefore, turn over the men involved, the ^1aworthless and wicked men in Gibeah, so that we may put them to death and ^bremove this wickedness from Israel.” But the Benjamites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel. 14 Then the tribe of the sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the other sons of Israel. 15 And the ^aBenjamites assembled out of their cities at that time twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who assembled seven hundred chosen men. 16 Out of all these people were seven hundred ^achoice ¹left-handed men; each one could sling stones at a target no wider than a hair and not ²miss.

17 Then the men of Israel, other than Benjamin, assembled four hundred thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were men of war.

18 The men of Israel arose and went up to ¹Bethel and ^aasked of God and said, “Which of us shall take the lead to battle against the sons tribe of Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up first.”

19 Then the fighting men of the sons of Israel arose in the morning and camped against Gibeah. 20 The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and assembled in battle formation against them at Gibeah. 21 The sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and ^astruck to the ground on that day twenty-two thousand fighting men of Israel. 22 But the people, the fighting men of Israel, took courage and strengthened themselves and again set their battle line in the same place where they formed it the first day. 23 ^aThe sons of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and ^basked of the LORD, “Shall we advance again to battle against the sons of our brother Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Go up against them.”

24 So the sons of Israel came against the sons of Benjamin the second day. 25 And the fighting men from the tribe of Benjamin went out of Gibeah against them the second day and again struck to the ground the sons of Israel, eighteen thousand men, all of whom were swordsmen. 26 Then ^aall the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel and wept; and they sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 27 And the sons of Israel ^ainquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there at Bethel in those days, 28 and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I quit?” And the LORD said, “Go up, ^afor tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”

29 ^aSo Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. 30 The fighting men of the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and placed themselves in battle formation against Gibeah as at other times. 31 ^aThe Benjamites went out against ¹their army and were lured away from the city, and they began to strike and kill some of the people as at other times, on the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel. 32 And the Benjamites said, “They are defeated before us, as at the first.” But the sons of Israel said, “Let us flee and lure them away from the city to the highways.” 33 Then all the men of Israel got up from their places and placed themselves in battle formation at Baal-tamar; ^aand the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed from their place in the plain of Maareh-geba. 34 When the ten thousand choice fighting men from all Israel came against Gibeah, the battle was hard and fierce; ^abut the Benjamites did not realize that disaster was about to strike them. 35 And the LORD struck down the tribe of Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed twenty-five thousand one hundred men of Benjamin that day, all of whom were swordsmen.

36 So the Benjamites realized that they were defeated. ^aThen men of Israel gave ground to the Benjamites, because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had placed against Gibeah. 37 Then ^athe men in ambush quickly rushed and attacked Gibeah; and the men in ambush also deployed and struck the entire city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was ^athat they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city. 39 So the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, ^afor they said, “Certainly they are defeated before us as in the first battle!” 40 But when the signal cloud began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked ^abehind them; and behold, the entire city went up in smoke to heaven. 41 When the men of Israel turned back again, the men of Benjamin were terrified, for they saw that ^adisaster had fallen upon them. 42 Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel and fled ^atoward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle followed and overtook them. As the fighting men of the sons of Benjamin ran among them, the Israelites of the cities came out and destroyed them. 43 ^aThey surrounded the men of Benjamin, pursued them relentlessly, and overtook them opposite Gibeah toward the east. 44 Thus eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all of these brave and able warriors. 45 The survivors of Benjamin turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of ^aRimmon, and Israel caught five thousand of them on the roads and overtook them at Gidom and killed two thousand of them. 46 So all of Benjamin who fell that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword, all of them brave and able warriors. 47 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and stayed at the rock of Rimmon for four months. 48 The men of Israel turned back against the tribe of the sons of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city of Gibeah and the livestock and all that they found. They also set on fire all the surrounding towns which they found.

Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at ^aMizpah. 2 The ¹chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 foot ²soldiers ^awho drew the sword. 3 (Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wickedness take place?” 4 So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin. 5 But the ^amen of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me; instead, they ^bravished my concubine so that she died. 6 And I ^atook hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance; for ^bthey have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel. 7 Behold, all you sons of Israel, ^agive your advice and counsel here.”

8 Then all the people arose as one man, saying, “Not one of us will go to his tent, nor will any of us return to his house. 9 But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up against it by lot. 10 And we will take 10 men out of 100 throughout the tribes of Israel, and 100 out of 1,000, and 1,000 out of 10,000 to ¹supply food for the people, that when they come to ²Gibeah of Benjamin, they may ³punish them for all the disgraceful acts that they have committed in Israel.” 11 Thus all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, united as one man.

12 Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire ¹tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has taken place among you? 13 Now then, deliver up the men, the ^1aworthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and ^bremove this wickedness from Israel.” But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel. 14 The sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the sons of Israel. 15 From the cities on that day the ^asons of Benjamin were ¹numbered, 26,000 men who draw the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah who were ²numbered, 700 choice men. 16 Out of all these people 700 ^achoice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

17 Then the men of Israel besides Benjamin were ¹numbered, 400,000 men who draw the sword; all these were men of war.

18 Now the sons of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and ^ainquired of God and said, “Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?” Then the LORD said, “Judah shall go up first.”

19 So the sons of Israel arose in the morning and camped against Gibeah. 20 The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arrayed for battle against them at Gibeah. 21 Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and ^1afelled to the ground on that day 22,000 men of Israel. 22 But the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again in the place where they had arrayed themselves the first day. 23 ^aThe sons of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and ^binquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall we again draw near for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Go up against him.”

24 Then the sons of Israel ¹came against the sons of Benjamin the second day. 25 Benjamin went out ¹against them from Gibeah the second day and ²felled to the ground again 18,000 men of the sons of Israel; all these drew the sword. 26 Then ^aall the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel and wept; thus they remained there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening. And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 27 The sons of Israel ^ainquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, Aaron’s son, stood before it to minister in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?” And the LORD said, “Go up, ^afor tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”

29 ^aSo Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. 30 The sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as at other times. 31 ^aThe sons of Benjamin went out ¹against the people and were drawn away from the city, and they began to strike ²and kill some of the people as at other times, on the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the field, about thirty men of Israel. 32 The sons of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.” But the sons of Israel said, “Let us flee that we may draw them away from the city to the highways.” 33 Then all the men of Israel arose from their place and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar; ^aand the men of Israel in ambush broke out of their place, even out of Maareh-geba. 34 When ten thousand choice men from all Israel came against Gibeah, the battle became ¹fierce; ^abut ²Benjamin did not know that ³disaster was ⁴close to them. 35 And the LORD struck Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day, all ¹who draw the sword.

36 So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were ¹defeated. ^aWhen the men of Israel gave ²ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah, 37 ^athe men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush also deployed and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was ^athat they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city. 39 Then the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike ¹and kill about thirty men of Israel, ^afor they said, “Surely they are ²defeated before us, as in the first battle.” 40 But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, Benjamin looked ^abehind them; and behold, the whole city was going up in smoke to heaven. 41 Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were terrified; for they saw that ^1adisaster was ²close to them. 42 Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel ^atoward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them while those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of them. 43 ^aThey surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest and trod them down opposite Gibeah toward the ¹east. 44 Thus 18,000 men of Benjamin fell; all these were valiant warriors. 45 ¹The rest turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of ^aRimmon, but they ²caught 5,000 of them on the highways and overtook them ³at Gidom and ⁴killed 2,000 of them. 46 So all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 men who draw the sword; all these were valiant warriors. 47 But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon four months. 48 The men of Israel then turned back against the sons of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city with the cattle and all that they found; they also set on fire all the cities which they found.