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.”

²⁶ Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord.^(A) They fasted^(B) that day until evening and presented burnt offerings^(C) and fellowship offerings^(D) to the Lord.^(E)

³¹ The Benjamites came out to meet them and were drawn away^(A) from the city. They began to inflict casualties on the Israelites as before, so that about thirty men fell in the open field and on the roads—the one leading to Bethel^(B) and the other to Gibeah.