Judges 20:28 - 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?” Yahweh said, “Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Judges 20:28" mean?
This verse from Judges 20:28 is a pivotal point in the story of the Israelites' civil war against the tribe of Benjamin. Let's break it down:
"and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days)": This establishes the setting and the person.
Phinehas: This is a significant figure. He was known for his zeal for God and his righteousness (see Numbers 25). His presence indicates that this is a serious matter requiring divine guidance.
"the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron": This lineage emphasizes his priestly role and connection to the established religious order. He's a legitimate and respected religious authority.
"stood before it": "It" likely refers to the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of God's presence and the center of Israelite worship. Phinehas is seeking guidance from God in a formal, religious setting.
"in those days": This situates the event within the context of the ongoing conflict and emphasizes that this is a time of crisis and uncertainty.
"saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?”": This is the question being posed to God.
"Shall I yet again go out to battle...": The Israelites have already fought against Benjamin, and suffered heavy losses. This shows their hesitation and doubt. They're questioning whether to continue a costly and seemingly unwinnable war.
"...against the children of Benjamin my brother...": This highlights the tragic nature of the conflict. Benjamin is their own tribe, part of their nation. It's a civil war, pitting brother against brother, which adds to the moral weight of the decision.
"...or shall I cease?": This is the key question. Should they continue fighting, risking further losses and potentially destroying an entire tribe of Israel? Or should they give up, allowing the wickedness in Benjamin (which sparked the conflict in the first place) to continue?
"Yahweh said, “Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.”": This is God's answer.
"Yahweh said": This is the crucial part. God directly answers Phinehas. It underscores the importance of seeking God's will, especially in times of difficulty.
"Go up": God commands them to continue the battle.
"for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.": This is God's promise of victory. It assures the Israelites that despite their previous losses, God will grant them success. It removes the doubt and hesitation, providing them with confidence and purpose. God is promising to intervene and give them victory, even though it seems unlikely.
In summary, this verse reveals:
The seriousness of the situation: The Israelites are in a moral and military crisis, uncertain about whether to continue a civil war.
The importance of seeking God's guidance: They consult God through Phinehas and the Ark of the Covenant.
God's sovereignty and intervention: God answers their prayer and promises victory, demonstrating His control over events.
The Israelites' reliance on God: They trust in God's promise and continue the fight, despite the odds.
A difficult command: God commands them to continue fighting, even against their own brethren. This underscores the importance of righteousness and justice, even when it's painful.
The verse sets the stage for the final battle against Benjamin, emphasizing that the outcome is ultimately determined by God, not just military strength. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking God's will in times of crisis and trusting in His promises, even when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Judges 20:28 - 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?” Yahweh said, “Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.”
What does "Judges 20:28" mean?
This verse from Judges 20:28 is a pivotal point in the story of the Israelites' civil war against the tribe of Benjamin. Let's break it down:
"and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days)": This establishes the setting and the person.
Phinehas: This is a significant figure. He was known for his zeal for God and his righteousness (see Numbers 25). His presence indicates that this is a serious matter requiring divine guidance.
"the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron": This lineage emphasizes his priestly role and connection to the established religious order. He's a legitimate and respected religious authority.
"stood before it": "It" likely refers to the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of God's presence and the center of Israelite worship. Phinehas is seeking guidance from God in a formal, religious setting.
"in those days": This situates the event within the context of the ongoing conflict and emphasizes that this is a time of crisis and uncertainty.
"saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?”": This is the question being posed to God.
"Shall I yet again go out to battle...": The Israelites have already fought against Benjamin, and suffered heavy losses. This shows their hesitation and doubt. They're questioning whether to continue a costly and seemingly unwinnable war.
"...against the children of Benjamin my brother...": This highlights the tragic nature of the conflict. Benjamin is their own tribe, part of their nation. It's a civil war, pitting brother against brother, which adds to the moral weight of the decision.
"...or shall I cease?": This is the key question. Should they continue fighting, risking further losses and potentially destroying an entire tribe of Israel? Or should they give up, allowing the wickedness in Benjamin (which sparked the conflict in the first place) to continue?
"Yahweh said, “Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.”": This is God's answer.
"Yahweh said": This is the crucial part. God directly answers Phinehas. It underscores the importance of seeking God's will, especially in times of difficulty.
"Go up": God commands them to continue the battle.
"for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.": This is God's promise of victory. It assures the Israelites that despite their previous losses, God will grant them success. It removes the doubt and hesitation, providing them with confidence and purpose. God is promising to intervene and give them victory, even though it seems unlikely.
In summary, this verse reveals:
The seriousness of the situation: The Israelites are in a moral and military crisis, uncertain about whether to continue a civil war.
The importance of seeking God's guidance: They consult God through Phinehas and the Ark of the Covenant.
God's sovereignty and intervention: God answers their prayer and promises victory, demonstrating His control over events.
The Israelites' reliance on God: They trust in God's promise and continue the fight, despite the odds.
A difficult command: God commands them to continue fighting, even against their own brethren. This underscores the importance of righteousness and justice, even when it's painful.
The verse sets the stage for the final battle against Benjamin, emphasizing that the outcome is ultimately determined by God, not just military strength. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking God's will in times of crisis and trusting in His promises, even when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.