DAN AND BENJAMIN. 97

Grandfather. Then you-will both be much surprised
to hear that the Benjamites were victorious, and that
they slew twenty-two thousand of the Israelites in the
battle.

_ George. That was very strange; the other tribes
must have been very cowardly to allow themselves to
be beaten by so few men.

Marianne. Perhaps the Israelites had not prayed for
the assistance of God.

Grandfather. They had not; they were too confident
in the goodness of their cause, and in the superiority of
their numbers. Before going to battle they went up to
the house of God, but it was only to ask which tribe
should lead. The Lord replied that Judah was to have
the leadership. This honour was given to the tribe of
Judah because from it our blessed Lord was to descend.
After their defeat the children of Israel again went up to
the house of the Lord, and with more humility than
before. They feared that they had done wrong in
fighting against their brethren, and they asked of the
Lord, “ Shall I go up again to battle against the chil-
dren of Benjamin, my brother?” The reply of the Lord
was, “ Go up against him.” A second time, therefore,
the children of Israel went against the children of Ben-
jamin. The Benjamites sallied out of Gibeah, and a
second time they repulsed the Israelites with loss ; they
slew of the children of Israel eighteen thousand men.

Marianne. Why was that, grandfather? surely the
Benjamites did not deserve to win.

H