¹⁸ Then the children of Israel arose and ^(A)went up to ^[a]the house of God to ^(B)inquire of God. They said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?”

The Lord said, ^(C)“Judah first!”

^23 (A)Then the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and asked counsel of the Lord, saying, “Shall I again draw near for battle against the children of my brother Benjamin?”

And the Lord said, “Go up against him.”

² Then the people came ^(A)to ^[a]the house of God, and remained there before God till evening. They lifted up their voices and wept bitterly,