Judges 20:26-35

After losing again, the entire Israelite army went up to the house of God, and they sat there fasting and weeping before YAHWEH all day until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before YAHWEH. The Israelites inquired of YAHWEH at Shiloh, for the ark of God’s covenant was there in those days. Phineas son of Eleazer, son of Aaron, ministered there before the ark. He inquired of YAHWEH, saying, “Should we resume our battle with our brothers, the Benjamites? Or should we quit?” YAHWEH answered, “Attack! For tomorrow I will give you the victory!” So Israel set ambushes all around Gibeah. On the third day, one company of Israelites advanced against the Benjamites, deploying against Gibeah as they had before. This tactic drew the Benjamites out of the city to attack the advancing Israelite army, leaving the city unguarded. They began to inflict casualties on the Israelites as before. There they killed about thirty men of Israel. The Benjamites boasted, “We are defeating them just as we did before!” But when the Benjamites had taken the bait, the Israelites said, “Retreat, and draw them away from the city to the main roads.” Every Israelite rose from his position and took their assumed positions at Baal-Tamar. Then the Israelites who were hiding in ambush jumped up from their positions west of Gibeah. Ten thousand elite soldiers from all over Israel made their direct assault on Gibeah. The fighting was fierce. And the Benjamites had no clue that disaster was at their doorstep. On that day, YAHWEH struck down the Benjamites before Israel. The Israelites slaughtered 25,100 swordsmen of Benjamin.

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