Judges 20:26

KJV

¶ Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then all the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, and all the people {H5971}, went up {H5927}, and came {H935} unto the house {H1004} of God {H430}{H1008}, and wept {H1058}, and sat {H3427} there before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}, and fasted {H6684} that day {H3117} until even {H6153}, and offered {H5927} burnt offerings {H5930} and peace offerings {H8002} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the whole army of Isra'el, all the people, went up to Beit-El and cried and sat there in the presence of ADONAI. They fasted that day until evening, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to ADONAI,

Berean Standard Bible

Then 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.

American Standard Version

Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto Beth-el, and wept, and sat there before Jehovah, and fasted that day until even; and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 20:26 marks a profound turning point in the devastating civil war between the Israelites and the tribe of Benjamin. After suffering two crushing defeats, the entire Israelite confederacy gathered at the central sanctuary, demonstrating deep national humility and repentance. Their collective actions—weeping, fasting, and offering burnt and peace offerings—signified a desperate, heartfelt turning from self-reliance to a sincere seeking of the Lord's will, acknowledging their utter dependence on divine intervention for victory and reconciliation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the narrative of Judges 20. The preceding chapters detail the horrific crime committed by the Benjaminites in Gibeah, leading to the other Israelite tribes resolving to exact justice. Despite their righteous cause, the Israelites suffer two crushing defeats at the hands of the Benjaminites, losing tens of thousands of men in battles described in [Judges 20:21](/judges/20-21 "Judges 20:21 - First Defeat of Israel") and [Judges 20:25](/judges/20-25 "Judges 20:25 - Second Defeat of Israel"). This outcome is particularly perplexing given their initial inquiries of the Lord, which seemed to grant permission for battle, as seen in [Judges 20:18](/judges/20-18 "Judges 20:18 - Israel's First Inquiry") and [Judges 20:23](/judges/20-23 "Judges 20:23 - Israel's Second Inquiry"). The repeated defeats, despite divine consultation, force the Israelites into a profound crisis of faith and strategy. Judges 20:26, therefore, represents a pivotal shift from a potentially superficial or presumptuous inquiry to a deeper, more desperate, and truly repentant seeking of God's face, recognizing that their previous approaches were insufficient or misaligned with God's deeper purposes.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges (roughly 1400-1050 BC) was characterized by a decentralized tribal confederacy, often summarized by the recurring phrase, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes," as stated in [Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - No King in Israel"). This era was marked by moral decay, internal strife, and cycles of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance. The "house of God" mentioned here refers to the central sanctuary, the Tabernacle, which was located at Shiloh during much of the Judges period, as noted in [Judges 18:31](/judges/18-31 "Judges 18:31 - Tabernacle at Shiloh") and [Judges 21:19](/judges/21-19 "Judges 21:19 - Shiloh's Location"). This was the primary place for national assembly, worship, and seeking divine counsel, housing the Ark of the Covenant. The acts of weeping, sitting before the Lord, and fasting were established practices for expressing profound grief, national lament, and sincere repentance in times of severe crisis or judgment, signifying a collective humbling before God. Burnt offerings (עֹלָה, _'olah_) represented complete dedication and atonement, while peace offerings (שְׁלָמִים, _shelamim_) symbolized fellowship, reconciliation, and thanksgiving, all crucial elements for restoring a broken relationship with a holy God and seeking His favor.
* **Key Themes:** Judges 20:26 powerfully encapsulates several key themes central to the book of Judges and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Profound Humiliation and Repentance**. The Israelites' actions—going to the "house of God," weeping, sitting before the Lord, and fasting—are not mere rituals but expressions of national grief, brokenness, and a sincere turning from self-reliance to God. Their two military disasters served as a severe humbling, forcing them to acknowledge their desperate need for divine intervention rather than relying on their own strength or initial presumptions of divine approval, as hinted at in their earlier inquiries in [Judges 20:18](/judges/20-18 "Judges 20:18 - Israel's First Inquiry") and [Judges 20:23](/judges/20-23 "Judges 20:23 - Israel's Second Inquiry"). Secondly, the verse underscores the theme of **Earnest Seeking of God's Will**. Unlike their previous, perhaps more superficial, inquiries, this time the Israelites engage in intense spiritual disciplines. Their prolonged mourning and fasting signify a deeper commitment to truly understand and align with God's will, not just to receive a quick answer or validation for their plans. This is a desperate plea for clarity and direction, leading to God's definitive answer in [Judges 20:28](/judges/20-28 "Judges 20:28 - God's Command to Attack"). Finally, the offering of burnt and peace offerings points to the theme of **Atonement and Reconciliation**. These sacrifices demonstrate their desire to restore their broken relationship with God and, implicitly, with each other after the civil strife, recognizing that true victory must begin with divine favor and forgiveness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **House of God (Hebrew, בֵּית־אֱלֹהִים, _bayith-Elohim'_):** This phrase refers to the central sanctuary of Israel, the Tabernacle, which during the period of the Judges was primarily located at Shiloh. The term "house" (H1004, _bayith_) signifies a dwelling place, while "God" (H430, _ʼĕlôhîym_) refers to the supreme God. The Israelites' journey to this specific location underscores their recognition of God's unique presence and authority, indicating a shift from military strategy to spiritual desperation and a seeking of the Lord in His designated dwelling.
* **Wept (Hebrew, בָּכָה, _bâkâh'_):** This verb (H1058, _bâkâh_) is a primitive root meaning "to weep" or "to bemoan." In this context, it signifies not merely sadness over their military losses, but a heartfelt contrition and brokenness before the Lord. It implies a recognition of their own sin, presumption, or misunderstanding that led to their defeats, moving beyond superficial grief to genuine repentance and lamentation.
* **Burnt Offerings (Hebrew, עֹלָה, _ʻôlâh'_) and Peace Offerings (Hebrew, שְׁלָמִים, _shelem'_):** The _ʻôlâh_ (H5930), or burnt offering, was a holocaust, entirely consumed on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication, propitiation, and atonement for sin. It signified the worshiper's total surrender and devotion to God. The _shelem_ (H8002), or peace offering, properly means "requital," referring to a voluntary sacrifice of thanks, fellowship, or reconciliation, often shared between God, the priests, and the worshipers. The offering of both types of sacrifices together indicates a holistic approach: seeking atonement for their failures and re-establishing a right, harmonious relationship with God, essential for national unity and divine blessing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God,"**: This clause emphasizes the national scope of the crisis and the collective response. "All the children of Israel, and all the people" highlights the unity of purpose in their distress, gathering at the central place of worship (Shiloh) to seek God's face. Their "going up" suggests a pilgrimage, a deliberate and arduous journey, underscoring the gravity of their situation and their earnestness.
* **"and wept, and sat there before the LORD,"**: This describes their posture of lament and humility. "Wept" conveys deep emotional distress and contrition, while "sat there before the LORD" indicates a prolonged period of mourning and waiting in God's presence, signifying a willingness to humble themselves and listen rather than demand. This is a stark contrast to their previous, perhaps more confident, inquiries.
* **"and fasted that day until even,"**: Fasting was a common biblical practice for humbling oneself, expressing deep sorrow, seeking divine favor or intervention, and demonstrating earnestness in times of crisis. "Until even" (sunset) indicates a full day of abstinence, emphasizing the intensity and duration of their spiritual discipline, signifying a profound commitment to seeking God above physical sustenance.
* **"and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD."**: These sacrificial acts were central to Israelite worship. The burnt offerings (עֹלָה) symbolized complete dedication and atonement for their sins and failures, while the peace offerings (שְׁלָמִים) represented their desire for reconciliation, fellowship, and the restoration of a right relationship with God. The repetition of "before the LORD" underscores that all these actions were directed specifically towards God, acknowledging His sovereignty and their desperate need for His favor and intervention.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 20:26 employs several significant literary devices to convey its profound message. **Repetition** is evident in the phrase "before the LORD," which appears twice, emphasizing that all the Israelites' actions—their sitting, weeping, fasting, and offering—were explicitly directed towards God, underscoring their recognition of His ultimate authority and their desperate need for His presence and intervention. **Symbolism** is richly present in the Israelites' actions: weeping symbolizes profound sorrow and repentance; fasting signifies humility, self-abasement, and earnest seeking; and the specific offerings (burnt and peace) symbolize atonement, complete dedication, and the restoration of fellowship. The collective action of "all the children of Israel, and all the people" creates a sense of **National Unity** in distress, highlighting the profound impact of their defeats and their unified turning to God. Furthermore, the verse functions as a **Turning Point** in the narrative, marking a shift from human presumption and military defeat to genuine spiritual brokenness and a deeper, more sincere pursuit of divine will, setting the stage for God's subsequent intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 20:26 offers a timeless theological lesson on the nature of true repentance and the pathway to divine favor in the face of human failure. It reveals that God sometimes allows defeat, even when a cause seems just, to expose human pride, self-reliance, or superficiality in seeking His will. The Israelites' profound humiliation, expressed through weeping, fasting, and sacrificial offerings, demonstrates that God desires a broken and contrite spirit more than outward adherence to ritual or confident assertion of a righteous cause. This passage underscores the principle that genuine spiritual transformation and divine intervention are often predicated on deep humility, earnest seeking, and a willingness to atone for sin and restore fellowship with God. It teaches that when human strategies fail, the most effective response is not despair, but a deeper, more sincere turning to the Lord, acknowledging His sovereignty and absolute control over outcomes.

* [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - If My People Who Are Called by My Name")
* [Joel 2:12-13](/joel/2-12 "Joel 2:12-13 - Return to the Lord with All Your Heart")
* [Psalm 51:17](/psalms/51-17 "Psalm 51:17 - A Broken and Contrite Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 20:26 provides a powerful blueprint for how individuals and communities should respond to failure, adversity, or unanswered prayers. When our best efforts, even those seemingly undertaken with divine approval, lead to unexpected defeat or prolonged struggle, the appropriate response is not despair or recrimination, but a deeper posture of humility, repentance, and earnest seeking of God. This verse challenges us to examine the depth of our dependence on God: are we truly seeking His will with a contrite heart, or merely asking for validation of our own plans? It highlights the transformative power of spiritual disciplines like weeping, fasting, and sincere worship, not as magical formulas, but as expressions of a heart truly yielded to God's sovereignty. Learning from the Israelites, we are reminded that God sometimes allows setbacks to refine our faith, expose hidden pride, and draw us into a more profound, authentic relationship with Him, ultimately leading to greater spiritual alignment and the manifestation of His purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically respond when my plans, even those I believe are God-ordained, encounter unexpected failure or resistance?**
* **What is the difference between superficially seeking God's will and genuinely humbling myself before Him, as exemplified by the Israelites in this verse?**
* **In what areas of my life might God be allowing "defeat" to bring about a deeper level of humility, repentance, or reliance on Him?**
* **How can I incorporate practices of deeper lament, fasting, and sincere worship into my personal or communal spiritual life during times of crisis or confusion?**

### FAQ

**What was the "house of God" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: The "house of God" (Hebrew: _beit-Elohim_) in Judges 20:26 refers to the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary where the Ark of the Covenant was housed and where the high priest ministered. During the period of the Judges, the Tabernacle was primarily located at Shiloh, as indicated in [Judges 18:31](/judges/18-31 "Judges 18:31 - Tabernacle at Shiloh") and [Judges 21:19](/judges/21-19 "Judges 21:19 - Shiloh's Location"). It was the central place of worship and national assembly for the Israelite tribes, serving as the focal point for seeking divine counsel and offering sacrifices. The Israelites' journey there signifies their recognition of its sacred status and God's unique presence within it.

**Why did God allow the Israelites to be defeated twice despite their seemingly righteous cause and prior inquiry?**

Answer: While the Israelites' cause against Benjamin was just, their initial inquiries, found in [Judges 20:18](/judges/20-18 "Judges 20:18 - Israel's First Inquiry") and [Judges 20:23](/judges/20-23 "Judges 20:23 - Israel's Second Inquiry"), may have lacked the necessary humility, depth of repentance, or full understanding of God's timing and purposes. God's allowance of two defeats served to humble the Israelites profoundly, exposing any self-reliance or presumption they might have harbored. It forced them into a deeper, more desperate state of repentance and earnest seeking, as evidenced by their weeping, fasting, and offerings in [Judges 20:26](/judges/20-26 "Judges 20:26 - Israel's Humiliation and Sacrifice"). This process refined their faith, prepared their hearts, and ensured that the ultimate victory would be clearly attributed to God's power and not their own strength or strategic brilliance. It was a divine discipline designed to bring about a more complete spiritual transformation before granting them victory, as seen in [Judges 20:28](/judges/20-28 "Judges 20:28 - God's Command to Attack").

**What is the significance of the specific offerings—burnt offerings and peace offerings—in this context?**

Answer: The offering of both burnt offerings (עֹלָה, _'olah_) and peace offerings (שְׁלָמִים, _shelamim_) was highly significant. The burnt offering was a sacrifice of complete dedication and propitiation, entirely consumed on the altar, symbolizing atonement for sin and total surrender to God. By offering it, the Israelites acknowledged their sinfulness, perhaps including their pride or lack of true humility in their previous approaches, and sought God's forgiveness. The peace offering, on the other hand, was a sacrifice of fellowship, communion, and reconciliation. It often involved a shared meal between God, the priests, and the worshipers, symbolizing a restored relationship and harmony. Together, these offerings expressed a comprehensive desire: to atone for their failures and to re-establish a right, peaceful, and intimate relationship with God, essential for national healing and divine favor.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 20:26, with its profound display of national repentance, sacrifice, and the desperate yearning for reconciliation with God, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and perfect fulfillment found in Jesus Christ. The Israelites' burnt offerings and peace offerings, though necessary under the Old Covenant, were temporary and imperfect, requiring repeated performance to cover sin and restore fellowship. They pointed forward to the one, final, and sufficient sacrifice of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Jesus, through His once-for-all death on the cross, became the perfect [burnt offering](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through the Offering of Jesus Christ") for our sins, fully atoning for humanity's rebellion and satisfying God's righteous wrath. He is also our ultimate [peace offering](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Our Peace"), breaking down the dividing wall of hostility between God and humanity, and between people, establishing true peace through His blood (Romans 5:1). The Israelites' weeping and fasting symbolized their brokenness and dependence; in Christ, we find not merely a symbol, but the very source of a [broken and contrite heart](/psalms/51-17 "Psalm 51:17 - A Broken and Contrite Heart") that God will not despise, made possible by His grace. Our access to the "house of God" is no longer limited to a physical tabernacle but is now direct and eternal through Christ, who is our [great High Priest](/hebrews/4-14 "Hebrews 4:14 - Jesus, Our Great High Priest"), enabling us to draw near to God's throne of grace with confidence, as encouraged in [Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence"). Thus, the desperate seeking of God in Judges 20:26 finds its glorious and complete answer in the person and work of Jesus, our perfect sacrifice, our eternal peace, and our constant access to the Father.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Judges 20:23

(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)

Joel 2:12

¶ Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye [even] to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

Joel 2:18

¶ Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

Ezra 8:21

¶ Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

Ezra 9:4

Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.

Ezra 9:5

¶ And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,

Judges 20:18

¶ 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.