¹⁸ The people of Israel arose and went up to ^(A)Bethel and inquired of God, ^(B)“Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, ^(C)“Judah shall go up first.”

²⁶ Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to ^(A)Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

²⁷ And the people of Israel inquired of the Lord ^(A)(for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,