outrage of Gibeah. Before the house of Bethac, a venerable old
man, they imitated the disgraceful conduct of the Sodomites
before the house of Lot. When the other tribes exacted amends
from the Benjamites, and were denied satisfaction, bloody combats
ensued. At first the Benjamites prevailed, in spit of the fact that the
Urim and Thummim questioned by Phinehas had encouraged the
Israelites to take up the conflict, with the words: "Up to war, I shall
deliver them into your hands." After the tribes had again and again
suffered defeat, they recognized the intention of God, to betray
them as a punishment for their sins. They therefore ordained a day
of fasting and convocation before the holy Ark, and Phinehas the
son of Eleazar entreated God in their behalf: "What means this,
that Thou leadest us astray? Is the deed of the Benjamites right in
Thine eyes? Then why didst Thou not command us to desist from
the combat? But if what our brethren have done is evil in Thy
sight, then why dost Thou cause us to fall before them in battle? O
God of our fathers, hearken unto my voice. Make it known this day
unto Thy servant whether the war waged with Benjamin is
pleasing in Thine eyes, or whether thou desirest to punish Thy
people for its sins. Then the sinners among us will amend their
ways. I am mindful of what happened in the days of my youth, at
the time of Moses. In the zeal of my soul I slew two for the sin of
Zimri, and when his well-wishers sought to kill me, Thou didst
send an angel, who cut off twenty-four thousand of them and
delivered me. But now eleven of Thy tribes have gone forth to do
Thy bidding, to avenge and slay, and, lo, they have themselves
been slain, so that they are made to believe that Thy revelations
are lying and deceitful. O Lord, God of our forefathers, naught is
hidden before Thee. Make it manifest why this misfortune has
overtaken us."