Judges 20 26

Judges 20:26 kjv

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.

Judges 20:26 nkjv

Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

Judges 20:26 niv

Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD.

Judges 20:26 esv

Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

Judges 20:26 nlt

Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the LORD and fasted until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.

Judges 20 verses

Judges 20 26 Meaning

After suffering two devastating defeats at the hands of the Benjamites, the entire community of Israel collectively assembled at Bethel, a sacred site. There, in deep lamentation and profound humility, they wept, sat in sorrow, and earnestly sought the Lord's intervention. They fasted throughout the day until evening, demonstrating intense earnestness and repentance. As a complete act of rededication, atonement, and desire for restored fellowship, they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, seeking God’s presence and guidance in their grave national crisis. This desperate act signifies a turning point from reliance on their own might or superficial inquiry to genuine contrition and dependence on God.

Judges 20 26 Context

Judges chapter 20 narrates a devastating civil war between the tribes of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. The conflict ignited due to the atrocious crime committed by men of Gibeah (Benjamin) against the Levite's concubine (Judges 19). The other Israelite tribes assembled, determined to exact justice and purify Israel from this great wickedness. Before engaging, they inquired of the Lord whether to attack Benjamin, and He granted permission (Judges 20:18). However, Israel suffered a massive defeat on the first day, losing 22,000 men (Judges 20:21). Despite this, they returned to Bethel, wept, and inquired again (Judges 20:23), and the Lord again commanded them to go up. Yet, they faced a second humiliating defeat, losing another 18,000 men (Judges 20:25). It is at this critical juncture of profound despair and confusion that Judges 20:26 takes place. The people's previous inquiries appear to have been mere strategic consultations, but these consecutive crushing losses revealed a deeper spiritual problem, compelling them to a more earnest, humble, and thorough act of repentance and seeking God. The Ark of the Covenant, usually at Shiloh, is mentioned in close proximity (Judges 20:27), implying Bethel served as a central and significant place of spiritual appeal.

Judges 20 26 Word analysis

• Then (wayyehî): A conjunction often marking a chronological sequence, here highlighting the immediate consequence of the second defeat.
• all the children of Israel (kol benê yiśrā’ēl): Emphasizes the entire national body, indicating a united and collective response to the crisis, encompassing those directly in battle and the wider populace.
• and all the people (wĕkol hā‘ām): Reinforces the comprehensive nature of this assembly, representing a corporate national anguish and decision.
• went up (wayya‘ălû): Implies ascent, often used for journeying to a central or holy place, especially to a city situated on higher ground or to the site of God's presence.
• came to Bethel (wayyābō’û bêt-’ēl):
  • Bethel (bêṯ-’Ēl): Hebrew for "House of God." A historically significant biblical site where God appeared to Jacob (Gen 28, 35). It held deep spiritual resonance for Israel, serving as a legitimate gathering point for worship and consultation in this period, possibly chosen for its historic connection to God's presence or proximity to where the Ark might have been.
• and wept (wayyibkû): Indicates a deep, communal wailing or lamentation, signifying profound sorrow, distress, and possibly corporate repentance over their defeats and sin.
• and sat there (wayyēšbû šām): A posture of humility, mourning, grief, waiting, and desperation. It reflects a complete stopping of human effort to seek divine intervention.
• before the LORD (li pənê yhwh): A crucial phrase indicating direct and reverent appeal to God's presence, seeking His face, counsel, and favor. It marks these actions as specifically religious, aimed at divine interaction rather than human strategizing. This phrase reinforces the deep spiritual intention behind their actions.
• and fasted that day until evening (wayyaṣûmû bāyôm hahû‘a ‘ad-hā‘ārev):
  • fasted (ṣûmû): Abstinence from food, a common practice in the Old Testament as an expression of mourning, penitence, profound supplication, or urgent spiritual focus.
  • that day until evening (bāyôm hahû‘a ‘ad-hā‘ārev): Denotes a complete, full-day fast, signifying extreme dedication, solemnity, and intensity of their prayer and lamentation.
• and offered burnt offerings (wayyaq’ḷû ‘ōlôt):
  • Burnt offerings (‘ōlôt): Sacrifices in which the entire animal was consumed on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication, atonement for sin, and an expression of profound submission and worship. They seek reconciliation and re-establishment of the covenant.
• and peace offerings (ûšlāmîm):
  • Peace offerings (šlāmîm): Sacrifices typically associated with thanksgiving, vows, or fellowship, representing communion, restoration of peace, and covenant relationship with God. Parts of the offering were shared by the worshipper, signifying a restored harmonious relationship.
• before the LORD (li pənê yhwh): Reiterates the profound spiritual focus, underscoring that all their ritual actions—weeping, sitting, fasting, and sacrificing—were directed specifically to God, acknowledging His ultimate authority and seeking His divine response and intervention.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then all the children of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel": Highlights the unified, national response and the deliberate choice of a historically significant worship site for their solemn assembly. This collective movement underscores the gravity of the crisis affecting the entire nation.
• "wept and sat there before the LORD": Describes a powerful expression of deep national lament and humility, signifying sincere contrition and an earnest seeking of God's presence and counsel in a posture of desperate waiting. Their previous inquiries had not been met with success; now, they were broken.
• "fasted that day until evening": Emphasizes the profound sincerity and earnestness of their spiritual endeavor. A complete fast signified their desperation, self-abasement, and complete dedication to seeking divine favor. It shows their readiness to lay aside earthly comforts for heavenly aid.
• "offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD": Represents a dual spiritual act. The burnt offerings symbolized their absolute dedication and desire for atonement for whatever sins contributed to their defeats, while the peace offerings indicated a longing for restored fellowship and shalom (wholeness, peace) with God and among themselves. These were comprehensive covenant renewal rites performed in deep distress.

Judges 20 26 Bonus section

The deep actions described in Judges 20:26—weeping, sitting, fasting, and comprehensive sacrifices—indicate that Israel finally understood the spiritual depth of their crisis. Their initial inquiries to God, though obedient in form, may have lacked true humility or genuine repentance concerning their own collective sins that may have contributed to their defeats (such as taking the matter into their own hands without truly examining their hearts). The recurring phrase "before the LORD" emphasizes that these acts were not mere cultural rituals but profound, directed petitions to a Holy God. This desperation brought them to a place of true brokenness, highlighting a spiritual principle: God often brings people to the end of their own resources before He truly intervenes powerfully, teaching reliance and genuine submission. This episode, especially in light of the horrific crime of Gibeah, demonstrates how internal strife and moral corruption can undermine national strength and require divine, not merely human, justice.

Judges 20 26 Commentary

Judges 20:26 marks a crucial shift in Israel’s approach to their civil war. After two unexpected and devastating defeats against Benjamin, despite God’s apparent permission to fight, the people finally abandon their superficial inquiries and presumed righteousness. This verse reveals a comprehensive national repentance and humility. They move from merely "asking" God for strategy (Judges 20:18, 23) to genuinely seeking His presence and favor with deeply expressive, corporate spiritual acts. Weeping, sitting in grief, fasting, and offering both burnt (total dedication, atonement) and peace (fellowship, communion) offerings are the signs of a broken and contrite spirit, acknowledged as essential for truly drawing near to God. This intensive engagement at Bethel, the "House of God," suggests a recognition that their problem transcended military tactics; it was a spiritual issue requiring God’s intervention, cleansing, and restoration of fellowship. Their actions were an admission of powerlessness and an urgent plea for God to act, embodying a posture of total reliance on Him rather than human strength.