Judges 20:26
Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
וַֽיַּעֲל֛וּ
and offered
H5927
וַֽיַּעֲל֛וּ
and offered
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
1 of 24
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
כָל
H3605
כָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
בְּנֵי֩
Then all the children
H1121
בְּנֵי֩
Then all the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
3 of 24
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
4 of 24
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
5 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָעָ֜ם
and all the people
H5971
הָעָ֜ם
and all the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
6 of 24
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ
and came
H935
וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ
and came
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
7 of 24
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
בֵֽית
unto the house
H1004
בֵֽית
unto the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
8 of 24
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ
and sat
H3427
וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ
and sat
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
11 of 24
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
שָׁם֙
H8033
לִפְנֵ֥י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֥י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
13 of 24
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָֽה׃
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
14 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בַיּוֹם
that day
H3117
בַיּוֹם
that day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
16 of 24
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַה֖וּא
H1931
הַה֖וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
17 of 24
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
18 of 24
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
וַֽיַּעֲל֛וּ
and offered
H5927
וַֽיַּעֲל֛וּ
and offered
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
20 of 24
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
עֹל֥וֹת
burnt offerings
H5930
עֹל֥וֹת
burnt offerings
Strong's:
H5930
Word #:
21 of 24
a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
וּשְׁלָמִ֖ים
and peace offerings
H8002
וּשְׁלָמִ֖ים
and peace offerings
Strong's:
H8002
Word #:
22 of 24
properly, requital, i.e., a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks
Cross References
Judges 20:23(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.)Judges 20:18And 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.Ezra 8:21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
Historical Context
Burnt offerings and peace offerings represented the most solemn form of covenant renewal and divine consultation. The burnt offering was completely consumed, symbolizing total dedication to God (Leviticus 1). Peace offerings were partially eaten by worshipers, symbolizing restored fellowship (Leviticus 3). The combination indicated Israel finally approached God with proper heart attitude rather than presumptuous demands for rubber-stamp approval.
Questions for Reflection
- What defeats has God used to drive you from shallow consultation to complete surrender?
- How do you move from presumptuous demands for God's blessing to humble seeking of His will?
- What does proper seeking look like—combining weeping, fasting, sacrifice, and genuine submission?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD—now comprehensive response: 'all Israel,' 'all the people,' corporate weeping, sitting before the LORD (posture of humility/mourning). And fasted that day until even (וַיָּצוּמוּ בַיּוֹם הַהוּא עַד־הָעָרֶב)—adding fasting to weeping. And offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD (וַיַּעֲלוּ עֹלוֹת וּשְׁלָמִים)—burnt offerings (עֹלָה, total consecration) and peace offerings (שֶׁלֶם, fellowship/communion with God).
After 40,000 casualties, Israel finally seeks God properly. The contrast with verses 18 and 23 is striking: before = brief inquiry; now = comprehensive corporate humility with weeping, fasting, and sacrifice. This verse demonstrates that God sometimes must break us thoroughly before we seek Him rightly. Israel's initial confidence in their righteous cause and superior numbers prevented genuine humility. Two devastating defeats humbled their pride and drove them to proper worship. The burnt offering expresses total consecration to God; the peace offering acknowledges need for reconciliation with Him. When paired, these sacrifices represent complete surrender and restored fellowship. Sometimes our best plans must completely fail before we're ready to truly seek God's way.