Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 89
20:12-31
J u dges
77
The Israelites sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What
a terrible thing has been done among you! Give up those evil men, those
troublemakers from Gibeah, so we can execute them and purge Israel of
this evil.”
But the people of Benjamin would not listen. Instead, they came from
their towns and gathered at Gibeah to fight the Israelites. In all, 26,000 of
their warriors armed with swords arrived in Gibeah to join the 700 elite
troops who lived there. Among Benjamin’s elite troops, 700 were left-
handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target within a hairsbreadth without missing. Israel had 400,000 experienced soldiers armed
with swords, not counting Benjamin’s warriors.
Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe
should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?”
The Lord answered, “Judah is to go first.”
So the Israelites left early the next morning and camped near Gibeah.
Then they advanced toward Gibeah to attack the men of Benjamin. But
Benjamin’s warriors, who were defending the town, came out and killed
22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.
But the Israelites encouraged each other and took their positions again
at the same place they had fought the previous day. For they had gone
up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the Lord until evening. They
had asked the Lord, “Should we fight against our relatives from Benja
min again?”
And the Lord had said, “Go out and fight against them.”
So the next day they went out again to fight against the men of Benja
min, but the men of Benjamin killed another 18,000 Israelites, all of whom
were experienced with the sword.
Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept in the presence of
the Lord and fasted until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and
peace offerings to the Lord. The Israelites went up seeking direction from
the Lord. (In those days the Ark of the Covenant of God was in Bethel,
and Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron was the priest.) The
Israelites asked the Lord, “Should we fight against our relatives from Ben
jamin again, or should we stop?”
The Lord said, “Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”
So the Israelites set an ambush all around Gibeah. They went out on
the third day and took their positions at the same place as before. When
the men of Benjamin came out to attack, they were drawn away from the
town. And as they had done before, they began to kill the Israelites. About
thirty Israelites died in the open fields and along the roads, one leading to
Bethel and the other leading back to Gibeah.