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.
• 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!”
• New Living Translation (NLT)Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?” The Lord answered, “Judah is to go first.”

Context of Judges 20:18

16Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. 17Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle. 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.” 19The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah. 20The Israelites went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them 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

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 18:31They continued to use the idol Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh.
• Judges 19:18He answered, “We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the Lord. No one has taken me in for the night.
• Joshua 18:1The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The country was brought under their control,
• Joel 1:14Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.
• Judges 20:7Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.”
• Judges 1:1After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?”
• Numbers 27:5So Moses brought their case before the Lord,
• Joshua 9:14The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.
• 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

• 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