Judges 20:2-17

LEB(i) 2 And the leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand sword-bearing infantry. 3 (The descendants* of Benjamin heard that the Israelites* had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites* said, "Tell us, how did this evil act occur?" 4 The Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered and said, "I came to Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. 5 The lords of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night. They intended to kill me, and they raped my concubine, and she died. 6 Then I grabbed my concubine and cut her into pieces, and I sent her throughout all the territory of Israel's inheritance; for they committed a shameful and disgraceful thing in Israel. 7 Look, all you Israelites!* Make your decision* and advice here." 8 All the people got up as one body,* saying, "Not one of us will go to his tent, or will any of us return to his house. 9 So then, this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against her by lot. 10 We will take ten men of one hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and one thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions to the troops, to repay them when they come to Gibeah* of Benjamin for all the disgraceful things* they did in Israel." 11 And all the men of Israel were gathered to the city as one body* united. 12 Then the tribes of Israel sent men throughout all the tribes of Benjamin, saying, "What is this wickedness that happened among you? 13 So then, hand over the men, the perverse lot,* who are in Gibeah, so that we may kill them and purge this wickedness from Israel." But the descendants* of Benjamin were not willing to listen to the voice of their relatives,* the Israelites.* 14 And the descendants* of Benjamin were gathered from the cities to Gibeah to go out for battle against the Israelites.* 15 From the cities the descendants* of Benjamin were counted on that day twenty-six thousand sword-wielding men,* besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred well-trained* men. 16 From all these troops were seven hundred well-trained* men who were left-handed;* each one could sling with a stone at a hair and not miss. 17 And the men of Israel besides Benjamin were counted four hundred thousand sword-wielding men;* all were warriors.*