Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The Israelites went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They said, "Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Benjamites?" The LORD replied, "Judah shall go first." New Living Translation Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?” The LORD answered, “Judah is to go first.” English Standard Version The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, “Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up first.” Berean Study Bible The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied. New American Standard Bible Now the sons of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God and said, "Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?" Then the LORD said, "Judah shall go up first." New King James Version Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” The LORD said, “Judah first!” King James Bible 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, Judah shall go up first. Christian Standard Bible They set out, went to Bethel, and inquired of God. The Israelites asked, "Who is to go first to fight for us against the Benjaminites?" And the LORD answered, "Judah will be first." Contemporary English Version So they went to the place of worship at Bethel and asked God, "Which tribe should be the first to attack the people of Benjamin?" "Judah," the LORD answered. Good News Translation The Israelites went to the place of worship at Bethel, and there they asked God, "Which tribe should attack the Benjaminites first?" The LORD answered, "The tribe of Judah." Holman Christian Standard Bible They set out, went to Bethel, and inquired of God. The Israelites asked, "Who is to go first to fight for us against the Benjaminites?" And the LORD answered, "Judah will be first." International Standard Version The Israelis mounted up, traveled to Bethel, and asked God what to do. They said, "Who is to lead us in our opening attack against the descendants of Benjamin?" The LORD replied, "Judah is to open the attack." NET Bible The Israelites went up to Bethel and asked God, "Who should lead the charge against the Benjaminites?" The LORD said, "Judah should lead." New Heart English Bible The children of Israel arose, and went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God; and they said, "Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?" The LORD said, "Judah will go up first." GOD'S WORD® Translation The men of Israel went to Bethel. They asked God, "Who will go first to fight Benjamin?" The LORD answered, "Judah will go first." JPS Tanakh 1917 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to Beth-el, and asked counsel of God; and they said: 'Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?' And the LORD said: 'Judah first.' New American Standard 1977 Now the sons of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, and said, “Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?” Then the LORD said, “Judah shall go up first.” Jubilee Bible 2000 Then the sons 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 sons of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first. King James 2000 Bible And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Who of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first. American King James Version 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, Judah shall go up first. American Standard Version And the children of Israel arose, and went up to Beth-el, and asked counsel of God; and they said, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? And Jehovah said, Judah'shall go up first. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they arose and went up to Baethel, and enquired of God: and the children of Israel said, Who shall go up for us first to fight with the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Juda shall go up first as leader. Douay-Rheims Bible And they arose and came to the house of God, that is, to Silo: and they consulted God, and said: Who shall be in our army the first to go to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord answered them: Let Juda be your leader. Darby Bible Translation And the children of Israel arose and went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And Jehovah said, Judah first. English Revised Version And the children of Israel arose, and went up to Beth-el, and asked counsel of God; and they said, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first. Webster's Bible Translation 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, Judah shall go up first. World English Bible The children of Israel arose, and went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God; and they said, "Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?" Yahweh said, "Judah [shall go up] first." Young's Literal Translation And they rise and go up to Beth-El, and ask of God, and the sons of Israel say, 'Who doth go up for us at the commencement to battle with the sons of Benjamin?' and Jehovah saith, 'Judah -- at the commencement.' Study Bible Civil War Against Benjamin18The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied. 19The next morning the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah.… Cross References Numbers 27:21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command he and all the Israelites with him, the entire congregation, will go out and come in." Judges 20:17 The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior. Judges 20:19 The next morning the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah. Judges 20:23 They went up and wept before the LORD until evening, inquiring of Him, "Should we again draw near for battle against our brothers the Benjamites?" And the LORD answered, "Go up against them." Judges 20:27 Then the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days, the ark of the covenant of God was there, Treasury of Scripture 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, Judah shall go up first. house of Judges 18:31 And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh. Judges 19:18 And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house. 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. asked Judges 20:7,23,26,27 Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel… Judges 1:1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? Numbers 27:5,21 And Moses brought their cause before the LORD… Judah Judges 1:1,2 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? … Genesis 49:8-10 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee… Lexicon The Israelitesבְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's Hebrew 1121: A son set out, וַיָּקֻ֜מוּ (way·yā·qu·mū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew 6965: To arise, stand up, stand went up וַיַּעֲל֣וּ (way·ya·‘ă·lū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew 5927: To ascend, in, actively to Bethel, אֵל֮ (’êl) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's Hebrew 1008: Bethel -- 'house of God', a city in Ephraim, also a place in southern Judah and inquired וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ (way·yiš·’ă·lū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand of God, בֵאלֹהִים֒ (ḇê·lō·hîm) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural Strong's Hebrew 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative “Who מִ֚י (mî) Interrogative Strong's Hebrew 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix of us לָּ֣נוּ (lā·nū) Preposition | first person common plural Strong's Hebrew shall go up יַעֲלֶה־ (ya·‘ă·leh-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 5927: To ascend, in, actively first בַתְּחִלָּ֔ה (ḇat·tə·ḥil·lāh) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's Hebrew 8462: A commencement, rel, original to fight לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (lam·mil·ḥā·māh) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's Hebrew 4421: A battle, war against עִם־ (‘im-) Preposition Strong's Hebrew 5973: With, equally with the Benjamites?” בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's Hebrew 1121: A son “Judah will be first,” יְהוּדָ֥ה (yə·hū·ḏāh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites the LORD יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel replied. וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 559: To utter, say (18) To the house of God.--Rather, to Bethel (as in the LXX., Syriac, Arabic, and Chaldee). The reason why our translators adopted their translation is shown by the Vulgate, which renders it "to the house of God that is in Shiloh." But Beth El cannot mean "house of God," which is always either Beth ha-Elohim or Beth Adonai (house of the Lord). Why they did not meet at the more central Shiloh we cannot say. Asked counsel of God.--Namely, by the Urim and Thummim. Apparently the high priest was not prevented by any scruple from taking the ephod, with its jewelled breastplate and Urim and Thummim, to any place where its use was needed. The ark was similarly carried from place to place, and had been brought (Judges 20:27) to the venerable sanctuary of Bethel with the high priest. It is not necessary to suppose that the tabernacle was itself removed. It may have been--for Shiloh was never understood to be more than its temporary resting-place. Bethel--as being a sacred place and near Gibeah--would be a convenient place of rendezvous. Which of us . . .?--Judges 1:1-2. Judah . . . first.--This is remarkable as indicating that the Urim and Thummim were something more than a pair of lots, and that the questions with which God was consulted by its means were other than those which admitted a mere positive or negative answer. Verse 18. - The house of God. In this rendering the A.V. follows the Vulgate, which has in demure Dei, hoc est, in Silo. But the Septuagint has Βαιθὴλ, and all the ancient authorities, as well as modern commentators, generally agree in rendering it Bethel. The reason, which seems a conclusive one, for so doing is that the Hebrew בית אל invariably means Bethel, and that the house of God is always expressed in Hebrew by בית האלהים (beth-ha-elohim). The conclusion is that at this time the ark of God, with the tabernacle, was at Bethel, which was only seven or eight miles from Shiloh. Bethel would be eight or ten miles from Gibeah, i.e. about half way between Shiloh and Gibeah. Asked counsel. The same phrase as Judges 1:1, where it is rendered simply asked (see note to Judges 1:1, and vers. 23, 47). In following this precedent the Israelites put the men of Gibeah on the footing of the Canaanite inhabitants of the land. With reference to ver. 9, it is worth considering whether this is not the fulfilment of the purpose there expressed by the Israelites, to go up against Gibeah by lot; either by understanding that the answer asked was given by a Divinely-directed lot, according to which Judah's turn came first (see Joshua 7:14-18; 1 Samuel 14:41; Acts 1:24-26; etc.), or by taking the expression by lot in a wider sense, as meaning generally Divine direction. 17:7-13 Micah thought it was a sign of God's favour to him and his images, that a Levite should come to his door. Thus those who please themselves with their own delusions, if Providence unexpectedly bring any thing to their hands that further them in their evil way, are apt from thence to think that God is pleased with them.Jump to Previous Battle Benjamin Benjaminites Benjamites Bethel Beth-El Children Commencement Counsel House Inquired Israel Israelites Judah RiseJump to Next Battle Benjamin Benjaminites Benjamites Bethel Beth-El Children Commencement Counsel House Inquired Israel Israelites Judah RiseLinks Judges 20:18 NIVJudges 20:18 NLT Judges 20:18 ESV Judges 20:18 NASB Judges 20:18 KJV Judges 20:18 Bible Apps Judges 20:18 Biblia Paralela Judges 20:18 Chinese Bible Judges 20:18 French Bible Judges 20:18 German Bible Alphabetical: against and arose battle Benjamin Benjamites Bethel fight first for go God inquired Israel Israelites Judah LORD Now of replied said shall sons The Then They to up us went Who OT History: Judges 20:18 The children of Israel arose and went (Jd Judg. 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