Judges 20:27 states: "The children of Israel asked Yahweh (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days)."
This verse provides context for the Israelites' actions in the chapter. Let's break down what it means:
"The children of Israel asked Yahweh...": This indicates that the Israelites were seeking divine guidance from God (Yahweh) through prayer or some other form of consultation.
"(for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days)": This parenthetical statement explains why they were able to ask Yahweh for guidance at that particular location. The Ark of the Covenant was a sacred chest that contained the tablets of the Law given to Moses. It was believed to be the dwelling place of God's presence among the Israelites. Its presence signified that God could be approached and consulted.
In essence, the verse is saying that:
The Israelites sought guidance from God (Yahweh) in this specific situation because the Ark of the Covenant—a symbol of God's presence and accessibility—was located there at that time. This implies that the Ark's presence was essential for properly seeking God's will in such matters.
Context within Judges 20:
Chapter 20 describes a civil war among the tribes of Israel, specifically against the tribe of Benjamin, due to a terrible crime committed in Gibeah (see chapter 19). The Israelites are seeking Yahweh's guidance on whether to go to war and how to proceed. The verse emphasizes that they are doing this in the proper way, by consulting God in the presence of the Ark.
Judges 20:27 states: "The children of Israel asked Yahweh (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days)."
This verse provides context for the Israelites' actions in the chapter. Let's break down what it means:
"The children of Israel asked Yahweh...": This indicates that the Israelites were seeking divine guidance from God (Yahweh) through prayer or some other form of consultation.
"(for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days)": This parenthetical statement explains why they were able to ask Yahweh for guidance at that particular location. The Ark of the Covenant was a sacred chest that contained the tablets of the Law given to Moses. It was believed to be the dwelling place of God's presence among the Israelites. Its presence signified that God could be approached and consulted.
In essence, the verse is saying that:
The Israelites sought guidance from God (Yahweh) in this specific situation because the Ark of the Covenant—a symbol of God's presence and accessibility—was located there at that time. This implies that the Ark's presence was essential for properly seeking God's will in such matters.
Context within Judges 20:
Chapter 20 describes a civil war among the tribes of Israel, specifically against the tribe of Benjamin, due to a terrible crime committed in Gibeah (see chapter 19). The Israelites are seeking Yahweh's guidance on whether to go to war and how to proceed. The verse emphasizes that they are doing this in the proper way, by consulting God in the presence of the Ark.