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26-28 The people of Israel went to the place of worship at Bethel,[a] where the sacred chest was being kept. They sat on the ground, crying and not eating for the rest of the day. Then about sunset, they offered sacrifices to please the Lord and to ask his blessing.[b] Phinehas[c] the priest then prayed, “Our Lord, the people of Benjamin are our relatives. Should we stop fighting or attack them again?”

“Attack!” the Lord answered. “Tomorrow I will let you defeat them.”

29 The Israelites surrounded Gibeah, but stayed where they could not be seen.

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Footnotes

  1. 20.26-28 place … Bethel: The Hebrew text has “beth-el,” which means “house of God.” This could refer to the town of Bethel, to the place of worship at Mizpah, or to the sacred tent at Shiloh (see 18.30,31).
  2. 20.26-28 sacrifices … blessing: See Leviticus 1–3.
  3. 20.26-28 Phinehas: Hebrew “Phinehas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron.”

27 And the Israelites inquired of the Lord.(A) (In those days the ark of the covenant of God(B) was there, 28 with Phinehas son of Eleazar,(C) the son of Aaron, ministering before it.)(D) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?”

The Lord responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.(E)

29 Then Israel set an ambush(F) around Gibeah.

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