Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites^(A)

1 After the death^(B) of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first^(C) to fight against the Canaanites?^(D)”

¹⁸ The Israelites went up to Bethel^[a](A) and inquired of God.^(B) They said, “Who of us is to go up first^(C) to fight^(D) against the Benjamites?”

The Lord replied, “Judah^(E) shall go first.”

²³ The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord^(A) until evening,^(B) and they inquired of the Lord.^(C) They said, “Shall we go up again to fight^(D) against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites?”

The Lord answered, “Go up against them.”