God’s Word Translation
Judges 20:18
18The men of Israel went to Bethel. They asked God, “Who will go first to fight Benjamin?” The Lord answered, “Judah will go first.”
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
16Out of all these troops, the best 700 were left-handed. Each could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. 17The men of Israel (Benjamin not included) totaled 400,000 soldiers armed with swords. The men of Israel went to Bethel. They asked God, “Who will go first to fight Benjamin?” The Lord answered, “Judah will go first.” 19The Israelites got up early in the morning and camped at Gibeah. 20So the men of Israel went to war with the men of Benjamin. The Israelites formed their battle line facing Gibeah.
Read all of Judges 20Judges 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- and went upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- to the houseבֵּיתbayith · betweenH1004
- of Godבֵּֽיתְ־אֵלbêyth-'êl · BethelH1008
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- and askedשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
- counsel of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Whichמִיmîy · who?H4310
- firstתְּחִלָּהtechillâh · beginningH8462
- to the battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
- of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
- And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
Cross-references for Judges 20:18
- Judges 18:31So they set up for themselves the carved idol Micah had made. It stayed there the whole time the house of God was at Shiloh.
- Judges 19:18The Levite replied, “We’re on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the mountains of Ephraim. That’s where I’m from. I had gone to Bethlehem in Judah. Now I’m going to the Lord’s house, but no one has offered to take me into his home.
- Joshua 18:1The whole congregation of Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land was under their control.
- Joel 1:14Schedule a time to fast! Call for an assembly! Gather the leaders and everyone who lives in the land. Bring them to the temple of the Lord your God, and cry to the Lord for help.
- Judges 20:7All you people of Israel, tell me what you think. Give me your advice right now!”
- Judges 1:1After Joshua’s death the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who will go first to fight the Canaanites for us?”
- Numbers 27:5So Moses brought their case to the Lord,
- Joshua 9:14The men believed the evidence they were shown, but they did not ask the Lord about it.
- Genesis 49:8“Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will 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
In the dictionaries
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
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