The whole Israelite army went to Bethel where they wept and sat before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.
They set out, went to Bethel, and enquired of God. The Israelites asked, ‘Who is to go first to fight for us against the Benjaminites? ’ And the Lord answered, ‘Judah will be first.’
They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins, who had not been intimate with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.
They went up, wept before the Lord until evening, and enquired of him, ‘Should we again attack our brothers the Benjaminites? ’ And the Lord answered, ‘Fight against them.’