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Judges 20:28

in Judges 20

and 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.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

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 Jehovah said, Go up; for to-morrow I will deliver him into thy hand.

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.

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This verse in Judges 20

Commentary

9 notes on this verse
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,.... Before the ark, ministering before the Lord, which shows that this affair was long before the times of Samson, though placed after them; or otherwise Phinehas must have been more than three hundred years of age, which is not probable (r).

This site's exposition

they sat weeping before the LORD

on Judges 20:26-28

The third approach adds fasting, burnt offerings and peace offerings, and the ark stands at Bethel with “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron” serving before it. One generation from Aaron places these events early in the period, so chapters 17 to 21 are an appendix. Only now does the answer carry a promise, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand”.

This site's exposition

Phinehas son of Eleazar

Gill reckons that if these events followed Samson, Phinehas would have been over three hundred years old. Barnes dates them within twenty years of Joshua's death. Clarke agrees that they took place shortly after Joshua died, since this is the Phinehas of Numbers 25:7.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Ambrose of Milan

On the Duties of the Clergy 3.19.115-16 · Written before 397.

proposed

The war remained doubtful with an uncertain issue, but in the third engagement the people of Benjamin were delivered to the people of Israel, and being condemned by the divine judgment [they] paid the penalty for their widely immoral behavior.

A commentator

Ambrose of Milan

LETTER 33 · Written before 397.

proposed

Begging the Lord's peace, they returned more boldly to war, and they to whom prayer had given courage and who had entertained much hope were now able to do what they planned. On a pretext of withdrawing their front lines, setting ambushes at night in the rear of the city, where a segment of the enemy was located, they followed as some retired and thus were provided with an opportunity for invading the unprotected city. Fires were quickly set and flared up while raging flames and waves of heat revealed the sight of the taken city.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

They were previously so confident of the greatness of their strength that they thought it needless to use any art, to lay any ambush, or form a stratagem, not doubting but to conquer purely by a strong hand; but now they saw it was requisite to use some policy, as if they had an enemy to deal with them that had been superior in number; accordingly, they set liers in wait (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Phinehas, the son of Eleazar - This was the same Phinehas who is mentioned Num 25:7, and consequently these transactions must have taken place shortly after the death of Joshua.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

But they ought to have done it at the commencement of their proceedings. Instead of this, all their plans were formed, and never doubting, it would seem, that the war was just and inevitable, the only subject of their inquiry related to the precedency of the tribes--a point which it is likely was discussed in the assembly.
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Phinehas, the son of Eleazar ... - A most important chronological statement, which makes it probable that these events occurred within twenty years of the death of Joshua. To-morrow - The two former answers only bade them go up against Benjamin; now, for the first time, the promise is added, “Tomorrow,” etc. (compare Jos 8:1).

The words behind it

27 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וּ֠פִינְחָסand Phinehas

    ufinchosH6372 →

  • בֶּן־[the] son

    ben-H1121 →4930 times

  • אֶלְעָזָ֨רEleazar

    ʾelazarH499 →

  • בֶּֽן־[the] son of

    ben-H1121 →4930 times

  • אַהֲרֹ֜ןAaron

    ʾaharonH175 →

  • עֹמֵ֣ד׀[was] standing

    ʾomedH5975 →521 times

  • לְפָנָ֗יו<to> before it

    lefanavH6440 →2123 times

  • בַּיָּמִ֣יםin the days

    baiyamimH3117 →2304 times

  • הָהֵם֮<the> those

    hahemH1992 →553 times

  • לֵאמֹר֒<to> saying

    lemorH559 →5305 times

  • הַאוֹסִ֨ף¿ will I repeat

    haosifH3254 →212 times

  • ע֜וֹדagain

    odH5750 →490 times

  • לָצֵ֧אתto go out

    latzetH3318 →1067 times

  • לַמִּלְחָמָ֛הfor <the> battle

    lamilchamahH4421 →320 times

  • עִם־with

    ʾim-H5973 →1050 times

  • בְּנֵֽי־[the] descendants of

    benei-H1121 →4930 times

  • בִנְיָמִ֥ןBenjamin

    vinyaminH1144 →166 times

  • אָחִ֖יbrother my

    ʾachiH251 →630 times

  • אִם־or?

    ʾim-H518 →1069 times

  • אֶחְדָּ֑לwill I cease

    ʾechdalH2308 →58 times

  • וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • יְהוָה֙Yahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • עֲל֔וּgo up

    ʾaluH5927 →890 times

  • כִּ֥יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • מָחָ֖רtomorrow

    macharH4279 →

  • אֶתְּנֶ֥נּוּI will give him

    ʾettenenuH5414 →2011 times

  • בְיָדֶֽךָ׃in hand your

    veyadekhaH3027 →1618 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Samuel 30:8and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”11 worksJudges 7:9That night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up and go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.6 works2 Samuel 5:19So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”6 worksJudges 1:1After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”5 worksJoshua 9:14Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.5 worksDeuteronomy 18:5For the LORD your God has chosen Levi and his sons out of all your tribes to stand and minister in His name for all time.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Joshua 24:33Eleazar son of Aaron also died, and they buried him at Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.4 worksDeuteronomy 10:8At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.3 worksJoshua 11:6Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.”3 worksJoshua 22:13The Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the land of Gilead, to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.3 worksJoshua 22:30–32When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were satisfied.2 worksProverbs 3:5–6Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;2 worksJudges 1:2“Judah shall go up,” answered the LORD. “Indeed, I have delivered the land into their hands.”2 works2 Chronicles 20:17You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”2 works1 Samuel 23:4–12Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”2 worksJeremiah 10:23I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.2 works2 Samuel 6:7–12And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.2 works1 Samuel 14:37So Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Deuteronomy 10:8

    At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in…

    it leads to

    • Deuteronomy 21:5

      And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every…

    • Deuteronomy 18:5

      For the LORD your God has chosen Levi and his sons out of all your tribes to stand and minister in His name for all time.

    • Numbers 4:15

      When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they…

    • Numbers 3:6

      “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

    • Numbers 6:23–26

      “Tell Aaron and his sons: This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

  • Through

    Deuteronomy 18:5

    For the LORD your God has chosen Levi and his sons out of all your tribes to stand and minister in His name for all time.

    it leads to

    • Deuteronomy 10:8

      At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in…

    • Numbers 3:10

      So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”

  • Through

    Judges 7:9

    That night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up and go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.

    it leads to

    • Acts 18:9–10

      One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.

About Judges

Jael, Deborah and Barak, Salomon de Bray, 1635. Public domain.
Jael, Deborah and Barak, Salomon de Bray, 1635. Public domain.
Judges: the study guide →Read Judges 20 →
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy 3.19.115-16; Ambrose of Milan, LETTER 33; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Judges 20 →