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1 And all the sons of Israel came out, and the congregation gathered together as one man from Dan and to Beersheba, and from the land of Gilead, before YHWH at Mizpah. 2 And the leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, stationed themselves in the assembly of the people of God: Four hundred thousand soldiers, foot soldiers who drew the sword. 3 And the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah, and the sons of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?” 4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “Into Gibeah, which is to Benjamin, I and my concubine came to lodge. 5 And arose against me the masters of Gibeah, and they surrounded the house against me at night. They intended to kill me, and instead my concubine they ravished, so that she died. 6 And I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the territory of the inheritance of Israel, because they had committed lewdness and outrage in Israel. 7 Behold, all you? sons of Israel, give for you? a word and counsel here.” 8 And all the people arose as one man, saying, “Not a man will go to his tent, nor will a man turn back to his house. 9 And this is the thing that we will do to Gibeah, against it by lot. 10 And we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of a myriad, to make provisions for the people, that they may repay when they come to Gibeah in Benjamin, according to all the vileness that they have done in Israel.” 11 And all the men of Israel were gathered against the city as one man united. 12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribes of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you?? 13 And now deliver up the men, the sons of worthlessness, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove the evil from Israel.” And the Benjamite were not willing to listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel. 14 And the sons of Benjamin gathered together from their cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the sons of Israel. 15 And the sons of Benjamin numbered at that time from their cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides those dwelling in Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred select men. 16 Among all this people were seven hundred select men, restricted of right hand, each of these slinging with a stone at a hair and not missing. 17 And the men of Israel mobilized themselves, apart from Benjamin, four hundred thousand men who drew the sword, each of these a man of war. Judges 20:1-17, Berean Literal Bible. Public domain.
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