Judges Chapter 20 · Verse 18

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

וַיָּקֻ֜מוּ arose H6965
וַיָּקֻ֜מוּ arose
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 1 of 21
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
יַֽעֲלֶה and went up H5927
יַֽעֲלֶה and went up
Strong's: H5927
Word #: 2 of 21
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
בֵֽית to the house H1004
בֵֽית to the house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 3 of 21
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֵל֮ H1008
אֵל֮
Strong's: H1008
Word #: 4 of 21
beth-el, a place in palestine
וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ and asked H7592
וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ and asked
Strong's: H7592
Word #: 5 of 21
to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand
בֵֽאלֹהִים֒ counsel of God H430
בֵֽאלֹהִים֒ counsel of God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 6 of 21
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר and said H559
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר and said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 7 of 21
to say (used with great latitude)
בְּנֵ֣י And the children H1121
בְּנֵ֣י And the children
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 8 of 21
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 9 of 21
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
מִ֚י Which H4310
מִ֚י Which
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 10 of 21
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
יַֽעֲלֶה and went up H5927
יַֽעֲלֶה and went up
Strong's: H5927
Word #: 11 of 21
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
לָּ֣נוּ H0
לָּ֣נוּ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 12 of 21
בַתְּחִלָּֽה׃ first H8462
בַתְּחִלָּֽה׃ first
Strong's: H8462
Word #: 13 of 21
a commencement; relatively original (adverb, -ly)
לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה to the battle H4421
לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה to the battle
Strong's: H4421
Word #: 14 of 21
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
עִם H5973
עִם
Strong's: H5973
Word #: 15 of 21
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
בְּנֵ֣י And the children H1121
בְּנֵ֣י And the children
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 16 of 21
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בִנְיָמִ֑ן of Benjamin H1144
בִנְיָמִ֑ן of Benjamin
Strong's: H1144
Word #: 17 of 21
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר and said H559
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר and said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 18 of 21
to say (used with great latitude)
יְהוָ֖ה And the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֖ה And the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 19 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יְהוּדָ֥ה Judah H3063
יְהוּדָ֥ה Judah
Strong's: H3063
Word #: 20 of 21
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
בַתְּחִלָּֽה׃ first H8462
בַתְּחִלָּֽה׃ first
Strong's: H8462
Word #: 21 of 21
a commencement; relatively original (adverb, -ly)

Analysis & Commentary

The children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God (בֵית־אֵל, beit-el, 'Bethel')—finally, consultation with God! And asked counsel of God (וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ בֵּאלֹהִים, vayish'alu be'elohim)—the verb 'to ask' (שָׁאַל, sha'al) suggests inquiry, but their question reveals shallow consultation: Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first (יְהוּדָה בַּתְּחִלָּה, yehudah batechillah).

Israel's inquiry is revealing in what it asks and what it omits. They ask 'which tribe first?' but never 'should we attack at all?' They assume war is the right course, seeking only tactical guidance about implementation. God answers their narrow question—'Judah first'—but His response doesn't constitute blanket approval of their strategy. The following two defeats demonstrate that God's designation of Judah as vanguard doesn't equal blessing on their battle plan. This illustrates how we can receive answers to limited questions while missing God's fuller counsel. Israel's consultation is real but insufficient—they seek God's input without truly submitting their approach for evaluation. When we predetermine our course and ask God only about details, we receive technical answers that may not prevent strategic disaster. Divine guidance requires surrendering the whole plan, not merely requesting rubber-stamp approval.

Historical Context

Bethel ('house of God'), located about 12 miles north of Jerusalem, was an important worship site in this period. The ark of the covenant was there (v. 27), making it a legitimate place for inquiry. However, the tabernacle remained at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1), suggesting the ark had been relocated—possibly for this very occasion. That Judah was designated first recalls their primacy in earlier battles (1:1-2) and anticipates their later preeminence under David and in Christ.

Questions for Reflection