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(In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The Israelites went up seeking direction from the LORD. (In those days the Ark of the Covenant of God was in Bethel,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And the people of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the children of Israel inquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God <i>was</i> there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So the children of Israel inquired of the LORD (the ark of the covenant of God <i>was</i> there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God <i>was</i> there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The sons of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God <i>was</i> there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then the sons of Israel asked of Yahweh (now the ark of the covenant of God <i>was</i> there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there [at Bethel] in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the Israelites inquired of the LORD. In those days, the ark of the covenant of God was there,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the Israelites inquired of the LORD. In those days, the ark of the covenant of God was there, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the children of Israel asked of Jehovah (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the children of Israel asked of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />In those days the ark of God's promise was at Bethel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The Israelis inquired of the LORD, since the Ark of the Covenant was there at that time <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The Israelites asked the LORD (for the ark of God's covenant was there in those days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The children of Israel asked of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the children of Israel inquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The children of Israel asked Yahweh (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the sons of Israel ask of YHWH—and the Ark of the Covenant of God [is] there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the sons of Israel ask of Jehovah, -- and there is the ark of the covenant of God in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the sons of Israel will ask in Jehovah, (and there the ark of the covenant of God in those days,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And inquired of him concerning their state. At that time the ark of the covenant of the Lord was there, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And they inquired about their state. At that time, the ark of the covenant of the Lord was in that place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The Israelites consulted the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of the LORD was there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And the Israelites inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the children of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of the LORD was there in those days;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the sons of Israel inquired of LORD JEHOVAH, and the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH was there in those days<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the children of Israel asked of the LORD--for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />for the ark of the Lord God <i>was</i> there in those days,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/20-27.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=6180" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/20.htm">Civil War Against Benjamin</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">26</span>Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. <span class="reftext">27</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ḇə·nê- (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">And the Israelites</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7592.htm" title="7592: way·yiš·’ă·lū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To ask, inquire. Or shael; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand.">inquired</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (Prep-b:: N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: hā·hêm (Art:: Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they.">(In those</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: bay·yā·mîm (Prep-b, Art:: N-mp) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">days</a> <a href="/hebrew/727.htm" title="727: ’ă·rō·wn (N-csc) -- A chest, ark. Or laron; from 'arah; a box.">the ark</a> <a href="/hebrew/1285.htm" title="1285: bə·rîṯ (N-fsc) -- A covenant. From barah (like bara'); a compact.">of the covenant</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of God</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: wə·šām (Conj-w:: Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">was there,</a> </span><span class="reftext">28</span>and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/23-9.htm">1 Samuel 23:9-12</a></span><br />When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” / And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. / Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/27-21.htm">Numbers 27:21</a></span><br />He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/9-14.htm">Joshua 9:14</a></span><br />Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/14-37.htm">1 Samuel 14:37</a></span><br />So Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/28-6.htm">1 Samuel 28:6</a></span><br />He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/30-7.htm">1 Samuel 30:7-8</a></span><br />Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him, / and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/2-1.htm">2 Samuel 2:1</a></span><br />Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/5-19.htm">2 Samuel 5:19</a></span><br />So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/21-1.htm">2 Samuel 21:1</a></span><br />During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/28-30.htm">Exodus 28:30</a></span><br />And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/8-8.htm">Leviticus 8:8</a></span><br />Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/33-8.htm">Deuteronomy 33:8</a></span><br />Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/10-13.htm">1 Chronicles 10:13-14</a></span><br />So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, / and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/14-10.htm">1 Chronicles 14:10</a></span><br />So David inquired of God, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will deliver them into your hand.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/21-9.htm">1 Chronicles 21:9-12</a></span><br />And the LORD instructed Gad, David’s seer, / “Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’” / So Gad went and said to David, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You must choose ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the children of Israel inquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,</p><p class="hdg">enquired</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/20-18.htm">Judges 20:18,23</a></b></br> And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah <i>shall go up</i> first… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/27-21.htm">Numbers 27:21</a></b></br> And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask <i>counsel</i> for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, <i>both</i> he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.</p><p class="hdg">the ark</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/18-1.htm">Joshua 18:1</a></b></br> And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/4-3.htm">1 Samuel 4:3,4</a></b></br> And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/78-60.htm">Psalm 78:60,61</a></b></br> So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent <i>which</i> he placed among men; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/59-1.htm">Isaiah 59:1</a></b></br> Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/2-20.htm">Agreement</a> <a href="/judges/18-30.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/judges/20-26.htm">Children</a> <a href="/judges/2-20.htm">Covenant</a> <a href="/judges/20-18.htm">Inquired</a> <a href="/judges/20-26.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/20-25.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/judges/11-37.htm">Request</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/4-5.htm">Agreement</a> <a href="/1_samuel/3-3.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/judges/20-28.htm">Children</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-3.htm">Covenant</a> <a href="/1_samuel/10-22.htm">Inquired</a> <a href="/judges/20-29.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/20-32.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/1_samuel/1-27.htm">Request</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-1.htm">The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-8.htm">The decree of the assembly</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-12.htm">The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-18.htm">The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/20-26.htm">They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And the Israelites inquired of the LORD.</b><br>This phrase highlights the Israelites' practice of seeking divine guidance during times of crisis. In the context of <a href="/judges/20.htm">Judges 20</a>, the Israelites are facing internal conflict with the tribe of Benjamin. The act of inquiring of the LORD reflects a dependence on God for direction, a common practice in the Old Testament (e.g., <a href="/1_samuel/23-2.htm">1 Samuel 23:2</a>, <a href="/2_samuel/2.htm">2 Samuel 2:1</a>). This inquiry was often done through the priestly use of the Urim and Thummim, sacred lots used to discern God's will (<a href="/exodus/28-30.htm">Exodus 28:30</a>). It underscores the importance of seeking God's guidance in decision-making, a principle that remains relevant for believers today.<p><b>(In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,</b><br>The mention of the Ark of the Covenant signifies the presence of God among His people. The Ark, a sacred chest containing the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and manna, symbolized God's covenant with Israel and His dwelling among them (<a href="/exodus/25-10.htm">Exodus 25:10-22</a>). During this period, the Ark was located at Bethel, a significant site for worship and inquiry (<a href="/judges/20-18.htm">Judges 20:18, 26</a>-28). The presence of the Ark indicates that the Israelites were seeking guidance in a legitimate and reverent manner. The Ark also foreshadows Christ, who is the ultimate presence of God with humanity (<a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a>). The reference to the Ark here emphasizes the seriousness of the situation and the Israelites' desire for divine intervention.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The collective tribes of Israel who are seeking guidance from God during a time of internal conflict with the tribe of Benjamin.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>The covenant name of God, Yahweh, whom the Israelites are seeking for divine guidance and intervention.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_ark_of_the_covenant.htm">The Ark of the Covenant</a></b><br>A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel. It was located at Bethel during this time.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/bethel.htm">Bethel</a></b><br>A significant location in Israelite history, often associated with worship and divine encounters. It served as a place where the Israelites sought God's guidance.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_conflict_with_benjamin.htm">The Conflict with Benjamin</a></b><br>A civil war within Israel, where the other tribes are fighting against the tribe of Benjamin due to a grievous sin committed in Gibeah.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/seeking_divine_guidance.htm">Seeking Divine Guidance</a></b><br>The Israelites' inquiry of the Lord emphasizes the importance of seeking God's guidance in times of crisis and decision-making.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_presence_of_god.htm">The Presence of God</a></b><br>The Ark of the Covenant symbolizes God's presence. Believers today can seek God's presence through prayer and the Holy Spirit.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_and_accountability.htm">Community and Accountability</a></b><br>The conflict with Benjamin highlights the need for accountability within the community of believers and addressing sin with justice and grace.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a></b><br>The Israelites' actions demonstrate faith in God's guidance, reminding believers to act on God's direction with trust and obedience.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_worship.htm">The Role of Worship</a></b><br>Bethel as a place of worship underscores the importance of worship in seeking God's will and presence.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_the_key_events_in_1_samuel.htm">What are the key events in 1 Samuel?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_judges_20_35-46_consistent_with_unity.htm">Judges 20:35-46 - Is the near-total annihilation of an entire tribe by fellow Israelites consistent with the broader biblical message of unity among God's people?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_a_carved_image_allowed_in_judges_18_31.htm">How do we reconcile the setting up of a carved image in Judges 18:31 with the strict prohibition against idolatry found elsewhere in the Old Testament?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_early_israelites_offer_firstfruits.htm">How did early Israelites fulfill the centralized requirement of bringing firstfruits (Deuteronomy 26) before a formal temple or priesthood was consistently established?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(27) <span class= "bld">Enquired of the Lord</span>--i.e., of Jehovah, as in <a href="/judges/20-23.htm" title="(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)">Judges 20:23</a>. On the occasion of their first general inquiry (<a href="/judges/20-18.htm" title="And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.">Judges 20:18</a>) it is said that they "enquired of <span class= "ital">Elohim," </span>but it is impossible to draw any certain inferences from this change of expression. It is clear, however, that the nation had been thoroughly and beneficially humiliated by these two terrible reverses, and that their approach to Jehovah on this occasion was far more solemn and devout than it had been at first.<p><span class= "bld">Was there</span>--i.e., at Bethel, though Bethel has not been mentioned in the English Version, owing to the erroneous rendering of the name by "House of God" in <a href="/context/judges/20-18.htm" title="And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.">Judges 20:18-26</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 27.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Enquired of the Lord</span>. In the Hebrew, <span class="accented">Asked the Lord</span>, as in vers. 18, 23. <span class="cmt_word">For the ark of the covenant</span>, etc. A most important statement, defining the time of these occurrences, within the lifetime of Phinehas, and also giving a strong intimation that the writer of these words lived after the tabernacle had been removed from Shiloh and its neighbourhood to Jerusalem. <span class="cmt_word">Was there</span>. Where? The natural answer to be given is, At Bethel; for Bethel is the only place that has been named. But it is not in accordance with the other intimations given us concerning the tabernacle, that Bethel should be its resting-place under the high priesthood of Phinehas. In <a href="/joshua/18-1.htm">Joshua 18:1</a> we have the formal pitching of the tabernacle of the congregation at Shiloh; in <a href="/joshua/22-12.htm">Joshua 22:12</a> we find it there, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest before it; in <a href="/1_samuel/1-3.htm">1 Samuel 1:3</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/2-14.htm">1 Samuel 2:14</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/3-21.htm">1 Samuel 3:21</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/4-3.htm">1 Samuel 4:3</a>, we find it settled there till taken by the Philistines; and in <a href="/psalms/78-60.htm">Psalm 78:60</a> we find Shiloh described as the abode of the tabernacle till its capture by the Philistines, and there is no hint anywhere of Bethel or any other place having been the resting-place of the ark before it fell into the hands of the Philistines. Neither, again, is the explanation of some commentators, that the words <span class="accented">the ark</span>... <span class="accented">was there in those days</span> implies "that the ark of the covenant was only temporarily at Bethel," at all satisfactory. <span class="accented">In those days</span> has naturally a much wider and broader application, like the expression (<a href="/judges/17-6.htm">Judges 17:6</a>; <a href="/judges/18-1.htm">Judges 18:1</a>), In <span class="accented">those days there was no king in Israel</span>, and contrasts the time of Phinehas and the judges with the times of the monarchy, when the ark and the high priest were at Jerusalem. Unless, therefore, we understand Bethel in vers. 18, 26, 31 to mean the house of God, which seems quite impossible, we must interpret the word <span class="accented">there</span> to mean Shiloh, and suppose that the writer took no count of the temporary removal to Bethel for the convenience of consultation, but considered that it was at Shiloh in one sense, though momentarily it was a few miles off. Possibly too in the fuller narrative, of which we have here the abridgment, the name of Shiloh was mentioned as that to which there referred. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/20-27.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then the Israelites</span><br /><span class="heb">בְנֵֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(ḇə·nê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">inquired</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiš·’ă·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7592.htm">Strong's 7592: </a> </span><span class="str2">To inquire, to request, to demand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD.</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּֽיהוָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">(In those</span><br /><span class="heb">הָהֵֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·hêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> </span><span class="str2">They</span><br /><br /><span class="word">days,</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּיָּמִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(bay·yā·mîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the ark</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲרוֹן֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·rō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_727.htm">Strong's 727: </a> </span><span class="str2">A chest, ark</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the covenant</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּרִ֣ית</span> <span class="translit">(bə·rîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1285.htm">Strong's 1285: </a> </span><span class="str2">A covenant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of God</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was there,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשָׁ֗ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·šām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> </span><span class="str2">There, then, thither</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/20-27.htm">Judges 20:27 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/20-27.htm">Judges 20:27 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/20-27.htm">Judges 20:27 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/20-27.htm">Judges 20:27 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/20-27.htm">Judges 20:27 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/20-27.htm">Judges 20:27 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/20-27.htm">Judges 20:27 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/20-27.htm">Judges 20:27 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/20-27.htm">Judges 20:27 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/20-27.htm">Judges 20:27 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/20-27.htm">OT History: Judges 20:27 The children of Israel asked of Yahweh (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/20-26.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 20:26"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 20:26" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/20-28.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 20:28"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 20:28" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>