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Civil War Against Benjamin
…26Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.27And the Israelitesinquiredof the LORD.(In thosedaysthe arkof the covenantof Godwas there,28and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”…

Treasury of Scripture

And the children of Israel inquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

enquired

Judges 20:18,23
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, Judahshall go up first…

Numbers 27:21
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall askcounsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in,both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

the ark

Joshua 18:1
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.

1 Samuel 4:3,4
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies…

Psalm 78:60,61
So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tentwhich he placed among men; …

Isaiah 59:1
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

AgreementArkChildrenCovenantInquiredIsraelIsraelitesRequestAgreementArkChildrenCovenantInquiredIsraelIsraelitesRequest1.The Levite in a general assembly declared his wrong
8.The decree of the assembly
12.The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites
18.The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand
26.They destroy by a plan all the Benjamites, except six hundred.

And the Israelites inquired of the LORD.
This phrase highlights the Israelites' practice of seeking divine guidance during times of crisis. In the context ofJudges 20, the Israelites are facing internal conflict with the tribe of Benjamin. The act of inquiring of the LORD reflects a dependence on God for direction, a common practice in the Old Testament (e.g.,1 Samuel 23:2,2 Samuel 2:1). This inquiry was often done through the priestly use of the Urim and Thummim, sacred lots used to discern God's will (Exodus 28:30). It underscores the importance of seeking God's guidance in decision-making, a principle that remains relevant for believers today.

(In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,
The mention of the Ark of the Covenant signifies the presence of God among His people. The Ark, a sacred chest containing the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and manna, symbolized God's covenant with Israel and His dwelling among them (Exodus 25:10-22). During this period, the Ark was located at Bethel, a significant site for worship and inquiry (Judges 20:18, 26-28). The presence of the Ark indicates that the Israelites were seeking guidance in a legitimate and reverent manner. The Ark also foreshadows Christ, who is the ultimate presence of God with humanity (John 1:14). The reference to the Ark here emphasizes the seriousness of the situation and the Israelites' desire for divine intervention.

1.The Israelites
The collective tribes of Israel who are seeking guidance from God during a time of internal conflict with the tribe of Benjamin.

2.The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, whom the Israelites are seeking for divine guidance and intervention.

3.The Ark of the Covenant
A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel. It was located at Bethel during this time.

4.Bethel
A significant location in Israelite history, often associated with worship and divine encounters. It served as a place where the Israelites sought God's guidance.

5.The Conflict with Benjamin
A civil war within Israel, where the other tribes are fighting against the tribe of Benjamin due to a grievous sin committed in Gibeah.Seeking Divine Guidance
The Israelites' inquiry of the Lord emphasizes the importance of seeking God's guidance in times of crisis and decision-making.

The Presence of God
The Ark of the Covenant symbolizes God's presence. Believers today can seek God's presence through prayer and the Holy Spirit.

Community and Accountability
The conflict with Benjamin highlights the need for accountability within the community of believers and addressing sin with justice and grace.

Faith in Action
The Israelites' actions demonstrate faith in God's guidance, reminding believers to act on God's direction with trust and obedience.

The Role of Worship
Bethel as a place of worship underscores the importance of worship in seeking God's will and presence.1.What is the meaning of Judges 20:27?

2.How does Judges 20:27 emphasize the importance of seeking God's guidance in conflict?

3.What role does the Ark of the Covenant play in Judges 20:27?

4.How can we apply seeking God's will in our daily decision-making?

5.Compare Judges 20:27 with James 1:5 on seeking wisdom from God.

6.How does consulting God in Judges 20:27 reflect our need for divine direction?

7.Why did the Israelites seek God's guidance in Judges 20:27 during a civil war?

8.How does Judges 20:27 reflect on the Israelites' relationship with God?

9.What does Judges 20:27 reveal about the role of the Ark of the Covenant?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 20?

11.What are the key events in 1 Samuel?

12.Judges 20:35-46 - Is the near-total annihilation of an entire tribe by fellow Israelites consistent with the broader biblical message of unity among God's people?

13.How do we reconcile the setting up of a carved image in Judges 18:31 with the strict prohibition against idolatry found elsewhere in the Old Testament?

14.How did early Israelites fulfill the centralized requirement of bringing firstfruits (Deuteronomy 26) before a formal temple or priesthood was consistently established?And the Israelites inquired of the LORD

“And the Israelites inquired of the LORD.” (Judges 20:27a)

• The people did not presume to fight in their own strength; they paused to seek God’s will first, just as their ancestors had done (Judges 1:1;Numbers 27:21).

• Inquiring of the LORD involved sacrifice, worship, and waiting for a clear answer—echoed later when David “inquired of the LORD” before battle (1 Samuel 23:2; 30:8).

• The verse underscores a pattern of dependence: God’s covenant people turn to Him, expecting real guidance (Psalm 34:4;Proverbs 3:5-6).

• Their approach reminds us that spiritual victories depend on obedience and relationship, not merely on numbers or strategy (2 Chronicles 20:3-15).

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(In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there)

“(In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,” (Judges 20:27b)

• The parenthetical note fixes the scene at Bethel, where the ark was temporarily located after Shiloh (cf.Joshua 18:1;Judges 20:18).

• The ark represented the visible throne of God on earth (Exodus 25:22); its presence affirmed that the people were seeking counsel at God’s appointed place.

• Phinehas, grandson of Aaron, is ministering before the ark in the next verse (Judges 20:28), highlighting continuity with the priesthood established inExodus 28.

• The writer’s reminder, “in those days,” hints at later changes—eventually the ark will be moved, even captured (1 Samuel 4:3-11)—but for now it remains the covenant center for worship and guidance.

• God’s holiness, symbolized by the ark, required reverence; when Israel treated it casually, judgment followed (2 Samuel 6:6-7). Here, however, they honor His presence.

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summary

Judges 20:27 shows Israel doing the right thing in a dark episode of civil war: they pause, humble themselves, and seek God’s direction at the very place He chose to meet with them. The ark’s presence signals divine authority; their inquiry reflects genuine dependence. Together, these details remind us that even in crisis God guides those who earnestly seek Him, and His covenant presence remains the sure foundation for faithful decision-making.

(27)Enquired of the Lord--i.e., of Jehovah, as inJudges 20:23. On the occasion of their first general inquiry (Judges 20:18) it is said that they "enquired ofElohim,"but it is impossible to draw any certain inferences from this change of expression. It is clear, however, that the nation had been thoroughly and beneficially humiliated by these two terrible reverses, and that their approach to Jehovah on this occasion was far more solemn and devout than it had been at first.

Was there--i.e., at Bethel, though Bethel has not been mentioned in the English Version, owing to the erroneous rendering of the name by "House of God" inJudges 20:18-26.

Verse 27. -Enquired of the Lord. In the Hebrew,Asked the Lord, as in vers. 18, 23.For the ark of the covenant, etc. A most important statement, defining the time of these occurrences, within the lifetime of Phinehas, and also giving a strong intimation that the writer of these words lived after the tabernacle had been removed from Shiloh and its neighbourhood to Jerusalem.Was there. Where? The natural answer to be given is, At Bethel; for Bethel is the only place that has been named. But it is not in accordance with the other intimations given us concerning the tabernacle, that Bethel should be its resting-place under the high priesthood of Phinehas. InJoshua 18:1 we have the formal pitching of the tabernacle of the congregation at Shiloh; inJoshua 22:12 we find it there, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest before it; in1 Samuel 1:3;1 Samuel 2:14;1 Samuel 3:21;1 Samuel 4:3, we find it settled there till taken by the Philistines; and inPsalm 78:60 we find Shiloh described as the abode of the tabernacle till its capture by the Philistines, and there is no hint anywhere of Bethel or any other place having been the resting-place of the ark before it fell into the hands of the Philistines. Neither, again, is the explanation of some commentators, that the wordsthe ark...was there in those days implies "that the ark of the covenant was only temporarily at Bethel," at all satisfactory.In those days has naturally a much wider and broader application, like the expression (Judges 17:6;Judges 18:1), Inthose days there was no king in Israel, and contrasts the time of Phinehas and the judges with the times of the monarchy, when the ark and the high priest were at Jerusalem. Unless, therefore, we understand Bethel in vers. 18, 26, 31 to mean the house of God, which seems quite impossible, we must interpret the wordthere to mean Shiloh, and suppose that the writer took no count of the temporary removal to Bethel for the convenience of consultation, but considered that it was at Shiloh in one sense, though momentarily it was a few miles off. Possibly too in the fuller narrative, of which we have here the abridgment, the name of Shiloh was mentioned as that to which there referred.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Then the Israelites
בְנֵֽי־(ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A son

inquired
וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ(way·yiš·’ă·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7592:To inquire, to request, to demand

of the LORD.
בַּֽיהוָ֑ה(Yah·weh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

(In those
הָהֵֽם׃(hā·hêm)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992:They

days,
בַּיָּמִ֖ים(bay·yā·mîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117:A day

the ark
אֲרוֹן֙(’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727:A chest, ark

of the covenant
בְּרִ֣ית(bə·rîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1285:A covenant

of God
הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

was there,
וְשָׁ֗ם(wə·šām)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 8033:There, then, thither


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OT History: Judges 20:27 The children of Israel asked of Yahweh (Jd Judg. Jdg)