Judges 20:27

And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God [was] there in those days,

And the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} enquired {H7592} of the LORD {H3068},(for the ark {H727} of the covenant {H1285} of God {H430} was there in those days {H3117},

and asked ADONAI what to do. The ark for the covenant of God was there at that time;

And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,

And the children of Israel asked of Jehovah (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

Commentary

Judges 20:27 describes a critical moment during a devastating civil war within ancient Israel. After suffering two significant defeats against the tribe of Benjamin, the remaining eleven tribes, in deep distress and humility, once again sought the Lord's guidance. This verse specifically notes the reason for their direct access to divine counsel: "for the ark of the covenant of God [was] there in those days."

Context

This verse is situated in the midst of a tragic and brutal conflict detailed in Judges chapters 19-21. The war erupted due to a heinous crime committed by Benjamites in Gibeah. Initially, the tribes gathered at Mizpeh (Judges 20:1) and then moved to Bethel (Judges 20:26) to confront Benjamin. Despite receiving initial divine instruction to proceed (Judges 20:18), Israel suffered heavy losses in two battles. This third inquiry, following intense weeping, fasting, and offerings (Judges 20:26), reflects their desperation and renewed earnestness in seeking God's specific will.

Key Themes

  • Divine Consultation and Guidance: The verse highlights the Israelites' practice of seeking God's direct will, especially in times of national crisis or significant military action. It underscores the belief that true success comes from God's direction.
  • God's Presence and Accessibility: The presence of the Ark of the Covenant symbolized God's dwelling among His people and served as the primary means through which they could consult Him. Its location at Bethel (or near it, as implied by the context) signified that God was accessible to them.
  • Humility and Perseverance in Prayer: Despite initial setbacks and possibly misinterpreting earlier instructions, the Israelites demonstrated perseverance and humility by continuing to seek God's face through prayer, fasting, and offerings.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "enquired of the LORD" (Hebrew: sha'al YHWH) signifies a formal and solemn act of seeking divine revelation or guidance. This was typically done through the high priest, who would minister before the Ark of the Covenant, often using the Urim and Thummim to discern God's will. The "ark of the covenant of God" (Hebrew: aron habberith YHWH) emphasizes its unique status as the most sacred object in Israel, representing God's covenant relationship and His very presence.

Significance and Application

Judges 20:27 teaches us about the importance of persistent and humble prayer, especially when facing difficult or confusing circumstances. Even when initial attempts to seek God's will seem to lead to failure, true faith calls for renewed supplication and deeper reliance on Him. The presence of the Ark underscores that God desires to be near His people and to communicate with them. For believers today, while the physical Ark is no longer present, the principle of seeking God's guidance remains paramount through prayer, the study of His Word, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth (John 16:13).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 18:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • Judges 20:18 (3 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • 1 Samuel 4:3 (3 votes)

    And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

  • 1 Samuel 4:4 (3 votes)

    So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth [between] the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, [were] there with the ark of the covenant of God.

  • Judges 20:23 (2 votes)

    (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.)

  • Jeremiah 7:12 (2 votes)

    But go ye now unto my place which [was] in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.

  • Psalms 78:60 (2 votes)

    So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent [which] he placed among men;