Judges 20:23

Judges 20:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(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.)
• New International Version (NIV)The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and they inquired of the Lord. They said, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites?” The Lord answered, “Go up against them.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, "Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Go up against them."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and asked counsel of the Lord, saying, “Shall I again draw near for battle against the children of my brother Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against him.”

Context of Judges 20:23

21The Benjaminites came out of Gibeah and slaughtered twenty-two thousand men of Israel on the field that day. 22But the Israelite troops rallied and again took their battle positions in the same place where they positioned themselves on the first day. They went up, wept before the Lord until evening, and inquired of him, “Should we again attack our brothers the Benjaminites?” And the Lord answered, “Fight against them.” 24On the second day the Israelites advanced against the Benjaminites. 25That same day the Benjaminites came out from Gibeah to meet them and slaughtered an additional eighteen thousand Israelites on the field; all were armed.

Judges 20:23 word by word

וַיַּעֲל֣וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיִּבְכּ֣וּ לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָה֮ עַד־הָעֶרֶב֒ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֤וּ בַֽיהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַאוֹסִ֗יף לָגֶ֙שֶׁת֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עִם־בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן אָחִ֑י וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה עֲל֥וּ אֵלָֽיו׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• went upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• and weptבָּכָהbâkâh · to weepH1058
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• until evenעֶ֫רֶב‛ereb · eveningH6153
• and askedשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Shall I go upנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: approachH5066
• againיָסַףyâsaph · to add: againH3254
• to battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
• my brotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251

Cross-references for Judges 20:23

• Judges 20:26The whole Israelite army went to Bethel where they wept and sat before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.
• Psalms 78:34When he killed some of them, the rest began to seek him; they repented and searched for God.
• Hosea 5:15I will depart and return to my place until they recognize their guilt and seek my face; they will search for me in their distress.
• Judges 20:18They set out, went to Bethel, and inquired of God. The Israelites asked, “Who is to go first to fight for us against the Benjaminites?” And the Lord answered, “Judah will be first.”

Commentaries on Judges 20:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Go up against him - It appears most evident that the Israelites did not seek the protection of God. They trusted in the goodness of their cause and in the multitude of their army. God humbled them, and delivered them into the hands of their enemies, and showed them that the race was not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-23After a period of weeping and likely confession (see Joshua 7), the Israelite troops received divine guidance and regained confidence.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 20:23

• Urim and Thummim

In the dictionaries

• Benjamin
• Israel
• Children of Israel
• Congregation
• Fetch
• Gibeah
• Glean
• Trust
• Wickedness
• Wolf

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