Judges 20:18-28

Israel's War with the Tribe of Benjamin

18 The people of Israel arose and went up to o Bethel and inquired of God, p "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, p "Judah shall go up first."

19 Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. 21 q The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites. 22 But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day. 23 r And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, "Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Go up against them."

24 So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin s went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who t drew the sword. 26 Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to u Bethel and wept. 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 people of Israel inquired of the Lord v (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 and w Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, x ministered before it in those days), saying, "Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?" And the Lord said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand."

  1. Cross References
    Judges 20:26
    Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
    Judges 20:31
    And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.
  2. Cross References
    Judges 1:1
    After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, "Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?
  3. Cross References
    Judges 1:1
    After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, "Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?
  4. Cross References
    Judges 20:25
    And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who drew the sword.
  5. Cross References
    Judges 20:26 - 28
    Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
  6. Cross References
    Judges 20:21
    The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.
  7. Cross References
    Judges 20:2
    And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword.
  8. Cross References
    Judges 20:18
    The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first.
    Judges 20:31
    And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.
  9. Cross References
    Joshua 18:1
    Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.
    1 Samuel 4:3 - 4
    And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 25:7
    When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand
    Numbers 31:6
    And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, together with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.
    Joshua 24:33
    And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.
  11. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 10:8
    At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.
    Deuteronomy 18:5
    For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for all time.
    Deuteronomy 18:7
    And ministers in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand to minister there before the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.