Judges 20:17-19

International Standard Version

¹⁷ But the Israeli army—not counting the tribe of Benjamin—numbered 400,000 expert swordsmen, all of them battle-hardened soldiers.^[a]

Civil War Lays Waste to the Tribe of Benjamin

¹⁸ The Israelis mounted up, traveled to Bethel, and asked God what to do.^[b] They said, “Who is to lead us in our opening attack against the descendants of Benjamin?”

The Lord replied, “Judah is to open the attack.”

¹⁹ So the Israelis got up in the morning, encamped near Gibeah,