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 to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to Yahweh at ^aMizpah. 2 And 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 draw the sword. 3 (Then 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 evil 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 Then the ^amen of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me; instead, they ^bviolated my concubine, and she died. 6 And I ^aseized 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 turn aside 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 in order to take up provisions for the people, that when they come to ¹Gibeah of Benjamin, they may do to them according to all the disgraceful acts that they have done 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 evil that has taken place among you? 13 So now, give up the men, the ^1avile fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and ^bpurge this evil from Israel.” But the sons of Benjamin were not willing to listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel. 14 Then the sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the sons of Israel. 15 And 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 And the men of Israel besides Benjamin were ¹numbered, 400,000 men who draw the sword; all these were men of war.

18 Then the sons of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and ^aasked of God and said, “Who shall go up for us to begin the battle against the sons of Benjamin?” Then Yahweh said, “Judah shall begin it.”

19 So the sons of Israel arose in the morning and camped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arranged themselves for battle against them at Gibeah. 21 Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and ^adestroyed to the ground on that day 22,000 men of Israel. 22 But the people, the men of Israel, strengthened themselves and arranged themselves for battle again in the place where they had arranged themselves the first day. 23 ^aAnd the sons of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until evening and ^basked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall we again approach for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?” And Yahweh said, “Go up against him.”

24 Then the sons of Israel drew near to the sons of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin went out to meet them from Gibeah the second day and destroyed 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 Yahweh and fasted that day until evening. And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh. 27 Then the sons of Israel ^aasked of Yahweh (now 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 Yahweh said, “Go up, ^afor tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”

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 arrayed themselves against Gibeah as at other times. 31 ^aSo the sons of Benjamin went out to meet the people and were drawn away from the city, and they began to strike ¹and slay 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 ¹defeated 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 burst forth of their place, even out of Maareh-geba. 34 Then 10,000 choice men from all Israel came against Gibeah, and the battle became heavy; ^abut ¹Benjamin did not know that ²calamity was ³about to reach them. 35 Then Yahweh ¹defeated Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day, all ²who drew the sword.

36 So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were ¹defeated. ^aNow the men of Israel had given ²ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah. 37 ^aSo the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah. Then the men in ambush 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 So the men of Israel had turned around in the battle, and Benjamin had begun to strike ¹and slay about thirty men of Israel, ^afor they said, “Surely they are ²defeated before us, as in the first battle.” 40 But the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, and Benjamin turned ^abehind them; and behold, the whole city was going up in smoke to heaven. 41 Then the men of Israel turned around again, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that ^1acalamity had ²reached them. 42 Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel ^atoward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and 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 to the east toward the sunrise. 44 Thus 18,000 men of Benjamin fell; all these were valiant men. 45 ¹And the 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 struck down 2,000 of them. 46 So all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 men who drew the sword; all these were valiant men. 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 Now the men of Israel returned to 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.