that they may die, and the evil may be taken away out of Israel.
But they would not hearken to the proposition of their brethren the
children of Israel:

20:14. But out of all the cities which were of their lot, they gathered
themselves together into Gabaa, to aid them, and to fight against the
whole people of Israel.

20:15. And there were found of Benjamin five and twenty thousand men
that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gabaa,

20:16. Who were seven hundred most valiant men, fighting with the left
hand as well as with the right: and slinging stones so sure that they
could hit even a hair, and not miss by the stone's going on either side.

20:17. Of the men of Israel also, beside the children of Benjamin, were
found four hundred thousand that drew swords and were prepared to fight.

20:18. And they arose and came to the house of God, that is, to Silo:
and they consulted God, and said: Who shall be in our army the first to
go to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord answered
them: Let Juda be your leader.

20:19. And forthwith the children of Israel rising in the morning,
camped by Gabaa:

20:20. And going out from thence to fight against Benjamin, began to
assault the city.

20:21. And the children of Benjamin coming out of Gabaa slew of the
children of Israel that day two and twenty thousand men.

20:22. Again Israel, trusting in their strength and their number, set
their army in array in the same place, where they had fought before:

Trusting in their strength... The Lord suffered them to be overthrown
and many of them to be slain, though their cause was just; partly in
punishment of the idolatry which they exercised or tolerated in the
tribe of Dan, and elsewhere; and partly because they trusted in their
own strength; and therefore, though he bid them fight, he would not give
them the victory, till they were thoroughly humbled and had learned to
trust in him alone.

20:23. Yet so that they first went up and wept before the Lord until
night: and consulted him and said: Shall I go out any more to fight
against the children of Benjamin my brethren or not? And he answered
them: Go up against them, and join battle.

20:24. And when the children of Israel went out the next day to fight
against the children of Benjamin,

20:25. The children of Benjamin sallied forth out of the gates of Gabaa:
and meeting them, made so great a slaughter of them, as to kill eighteen
thousand m