Judges 20:18

Judges 20:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)The Israelites went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They said, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” The Lord replied, “Judah shall go first.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” The Lord said, “Judah first!”

Context of Judges 20:18

16Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing. 17The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mobilized 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior. The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied. 19The next morning the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah. 20And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took up their battle positions at Gibeah.

Judges 20:18 word by word

וַיָּקֻ֜מוּ וַיַּעֲל֣וּ בֵֽית־אֵל֮ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ בֵאלֹהִים֒ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִ֚י יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֣נוּ בַתְּחִלָּ֔ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה יְהוּדָ֥ה בַתְּחִלָּֽה׃Read the interlinear

• The Israelitesבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• The Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• set outקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• went upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• to Bethelבֵּֽיתְ־אֵלbêyth-'êl · BethelH1008
• and inquiredשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• ·אָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Whoמִיmîy · who?H4310
• firstתְּחִלָּהtechillâh · beginningH8462
• to fightמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• againstעִם‛im · withH5973
• the Benjamitesבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
• Judah will be firstיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
• the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for Judges 20:18

• Judges 18:31So they set up for themselves Micah’s graven image, and it was there the whole time the house of God was in Shiloh.
• Judges 19:18The Levite replied, “We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and now I am going to the house of the LORD; but no one has taken me into his home,
• Joshua 18:1Then the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. And though the land was subdued before them,
• Joel 1:14Consecrate a fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
• Judges 20:7Behold, all you Israelites, give your advice and verdict here and now.”
• Judges 1:1After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”
• Numbers 27:5So Moses brought their case before the LORD,
• Joshua 9:14Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.
• Genesis 49:8Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you.

Commentaries on Judges 20:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Went up to the house of God - Some think that a deputation was sent from Shiloh, where Phinehas the high priest was, to inquire, not concerning the expediency of the war, nor of its success, but which of the tribes should begin the attack. Having so much right on their side, they had no doubt of the justice of their cause. Having such a superiority of numbers, they had no doubt of success. See the note on Judges 20:1. And the Lord said, Judah - But he did…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Went up to the house of God - It should be “to Bethel.” At this time the ark was at Bethel (compare 1 Samuel 10:3), and not at Shiloh. It is not unlikely that though Shiloh was the chief residence of the ark Jeremiah 7:12, yet the tabernacle, being moveable, was, either at stated times, or as occasion required, moved to where the Judge resided, or the congregation assembled (compare 1 Samuel 7:16). On the present occasion the ark may have been moved to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18To go first means to lead, but not always to come before (Genesis 49:10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2818-28. the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God--This consultation at Shiloh was right. But they ought to have done it at the commencement of their proceedings. Instead of this, all their plans were formed, and never doubting, it would seem, that the war was just and inevitable, the only subject of their inquiry related to the precedency of the tribes--a point which it is likely was discussed in the assembly. Had they asked counsel of…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 20:18

• Beth-El
• Church
• Tabernacle
• Urim and Thummim
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Benjamin
• God
• Israel
• Judah
• Children of Israel
• House of God
• Bethel
• Congregation
• Fetch
• Gibeah

Commentaries on Judges 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary