Judges 20:19 Explained in Context

Verse 18. ¹⁸ And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.

Verse 19. ¹⁹ And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

Verse 20. ²⁰ And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.

Verse 21. ²¹ And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

Verse 22. ²² And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.

Verse 23. ²³ (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)

Verse 24. ²⁴ And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

Verse 25. ²⁵ And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

Verse 26. ²⁶ Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

Verse 27. ²⁷ And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

Verse 28. ²⁸ And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.