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 attacked from Gibeah and struck down twenty-two thousand Israelites that day. 22The Israelite army took heart and once more arranged their battle lines, in the same place where they had taken their positions the day before. The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until evening. They asked the Lord, “Should we again march out to fight the Benjaminites, our brothers?” The Lord said, “Attack them!” 24So the Israelites marched toward the Benjaminites the next day. 25The Benjaminites again attacked them from Gibeah and struck down eighteen thousand sword-wielding Israelite soldiers.

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 20:26So all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel. They wept and sat there before the Lord; they did not eat anything that day until evening. They offered up burnt sacrifices and tokens of peace to the Lord.
• Psalms 78:34When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.
• Hosea 5:15Then I will return again to my lair until they have suffered their punishment. Then they will seek me; in their distress they will earnestly seek me.
• Judges 20:18The Israelites went up to Bethel and asked God, “Who should lead the charge against the Benjaminites?” The Lord said, “Judah should lead.”

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