Judges 20 28

Judges 20:28 kjv

And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

Judges 20:28 nkjv

and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, "Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?" And the LORD said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand."

Judges 20:28 niv

with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, "Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?" The LORD responded, "Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands."

Judges 20:28 esv

and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, "Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?" And the LORD said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand."

Judges 20:28 nlt

and Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron was the priest.) The Israelites asked the LORD, "Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again, or should we stop?" The LORD said, "Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you."

Judges 20 verses

Judges 20 28 Meaning

Judges 20:28 describes the third inquiry of the high priest Phinehas before the Ark of the Covenant, seeking God's guidance on whether the tribes of Israel should continue their civil war against the Benjamites. After two prior defeats, despite receiving initial commands to "go up," Israel faced a crucial moment. God's response, "Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand," serves as a direct divine assurance of victory, signaling a turning point in the devastating conflict. This verse highlights the necessity of persistent and specific divine guidance, the authority of the priesthood as an intermediary for inquiry, and the ultimate sovereignty of God in human affairs, even in times of Israel's internal brokenness.

Judges 20 28 Context

Judges chapter 20 is part of the final, morally dark section of the Book of Judges (chapters 17-21), which describes the utter collapse of societal and spiritual order in Israel, summed up by the refrain "in those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 21:25). The preceding chapters detail a horrific incident: the gang rape and murder of a Levite's concubine by Benjamite men from Gibeah. In response, the Levite dismembers her body and sends parts to all twelve tribes, calling for justice. The tribes gather at Mizpah, seeking an explanation and retribution from Benjamin, who defiantly refuses to surrender the perpetrators. This leads to a catastrophic civil war. Judges 20:28 is pivotal because it follows two severe defeats for the united Israelite tribes against Benjamin (Jdg 20:21, 20:25), despite God's previous instructions to "go up" (Jdg 20:18, 20:23). These losses demonstrate that obedience to God's command to fight does not automatically guarantee immediate success if other spiritual or strategic elements are not in alignment or if His full "deliverance" has not yet been promised for that specific phase of battle. The third inquiry and the specific promise of "tomorrow I will deliver them" marks God's definite turning of the tide and explains the eventual decisive Israelite victory in the following verses. It highlights Israel's need to seek not just permission, but precise instruction and divine assurance.

Judges 20 28 Word analysis

• And Phinehas: (וּפִנְחָס, uphinkhas). Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron (son of Eleazar). He is significant for his zealous action against idolatry and immorality at Baal-peor (Num 25:7-13), which earned his lineage a "covenant of lasting priesthood." His presence indicates a high priestly function and a link to a time of more direct divine interaction, providing an important counterpoint to the moral decay of the Judges period. His leadership in inquiring God emphasizes the enduring validity of God's covenant even amid Israel's failure.
• the son of Eleazar: Eleazar (אֶלְעָזָר, El'azar), Aaron's second son, succeeded his father as High Priest. This further reinforces Phinehas's direct and legitimate claim to the priestly office and his role in interceding before God.
• the son of Aaron: Aaron (אַהֲרֹן, Aharon), Moses' brother, was the first High Priest of Israel. This complete lineage underlines the official and divinely appointed authority through whom Israel sought the Lord.
• stood before it: Refers to the Ark of the Covenant, likely positioned at Bethel, where Israel had gathered to inquire of God. Standing "before" the Ark symbolized being in the presence of the Lord, as the Ark was the tangible representation of God's dwelling among His people. It signifies reverence and direct appeal to God's presence.
• in those days: This phrase contextualizes the event within the chaotic period of the Judges. It emphasizes that despite the moral and political disarray, God's established institutions (the priesthood, the Ark, and the means of divine inquiry) remained available and functional.
• saying: Indicates a direct vocal prayer or formal inquiry from the High Priest, implying the use of Urim and Thummim, or direct prophetic utterance associated with the priestly office.
• 'Shall I yet again go out to battle': The use of "yet again" (עוֹד, od) points to this being the third such inquiry, indicating persistence despite previous setbacks and severe losses (22,000 and 18,000 Israelite dead). This highlights human perseverance and God's patience, allowing His people to experience the consequences of their actions (or perhaps insufficient dependence) before granting decisive victory.
• 'against the children of Benjamin my brother': The phrase "my brother" underscores the tragic nature of the conflict. It emphasizes that this was an internecine war, a battle between brothers within God's covenant people. This brotherhood aspect adds to the severity of the national sin.
• 'or shall I cease?': This suggests the consideration of giving up, a natural response to two crushing defeats. It demonstrates the Israelites' despair and their ultimate recognition of the need for definitive divine assurance before continuing such a devastating engagement.
• 'And the Lord said': (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, vayo'mer YHWH). This is a crucial declarative statement indicating a direct divine oracle, signaling a clear, unambiguous response from God.
• 'Go up': (עֲלֵה, aleh). A command to advance. It reiterates the divine will for the war to continue, affirming Israel's cause as righteous.
• 'for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand': (כִּי מָחָר אֶתְּנֵם בְּיָדֶךָ, ki machar et'enem b'yadekha). This is the key assurance. "Tomorrow" provides specific timing, eliminating further uncertainty. "I will deliver them" (אֶתְּנֵם, et'enem, literally "I will give them") establishes God's direct agency in ensuring victory, moving from permission to full promise. "Into your hand" (בְּיָדֶךָ, b'yadekha) signifies total control and conquest, indicating the impending decisive defeat of Benjamin.

• "Phinehas... stood before it in those days": This phrase highlights the crucial connection between priestly mediation, the Ark as the symbol of God's presence, and God's enduring covenant fidelity even in an era of national spiritual decline. It underlines the concept of seeking God through established channels.
• "Shall I yet again go out... or shall I cease?": This group of words emphasizes Israel's persistent seeking despite two defeats, showing their dependence on God rather than their own strategic prowess. The question of continuing or ceasing shows their weariness and desperation, but also their conviction that only divine direction can resolve their crisis.
• "And the Lord said, 'Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.'": This passage conveys the divine sovereignty, specificity of guidance, and certainty of victory. God’s promise clarifies the divine timing and guarantees the outcome, marking a pivotal turning point in the battle narrative from Israel's repeated failure to a guaranteed success.

Judges 20 28 Bonus section

• The Silence and Specificity: The initial commands to "go up" (Jdg 20:18, 20:23) were general, leading to devastating defeats. The absence of a promise of victory in the first two responses implicitly teaches Israel that merely obeying a command to fight is not enough; complete success depends on specific divine assurance and alignment with God's ultimate plan, which sometimes involves allowing struggle for refinement or demonstration of absolute dependence.
• Significance of "Tomorrow": The timing of "tomorrow" provides not only assurance but also practical guidance for military strategy. It allows for preparation and demonstrates God's sovereignty over time and events. It shows God’s active control and meticulous planning.
• Contrast with Judges Theme: While the overarching theme of Judges is "everyone did what was right in his own eyes," this verse offers a glimmer of hope by demonstrating that a segment of Israel still knew how to genuinely seek God's will through His ordained channels (the priesthood and the Ark), and that God was still willing to respond to His people even in their broken state. It underscores God's faithfulness despite Israel's infidelity.

Judges 20 28 Commentary

Judges 20:28 is the spiritual and tactical turning point in the Benjamite war. After two disastrous attempts, the tribes, likely despondent, continue to seek God, represented by Phinehas, the High Priest, before the Ark. The phrase "yet again" encapsulates their frustration and perhaps confusion, as they had inquired and been told to "go up" twice before, only to be decimated. This third inquiry highlights the nuances of divine guidance: it's not merely a "yes" or "no," but can include timing, specific conditions, or simply a divine process that permits human trial and learning. God's specific promise for "tomorrow," along with the active verb "I will deliver," provides the exact assurance that was previously withheld in its completeness. This divine intervention affirms that the victory ultimately rests not on Israel's might or strategy, but solely on God's active involvement and timing. The passage emphasizes persistent, humble, and detailed inquiry of God, especially when initial obedience doesn't yield expected immediate success, leading to complete reliance on His promised deliverance.