But the Israelite army took courage and again took their battle positions in the same place where they had arrayed themselves on the first day.
Parallel translations
- WEB The people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.
- KJV And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.
- NKJV And the people, that is, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and again formed the battle line at the place where they had put themselves in array on the first day.
- NASB But the people, the men of Israel, showed themselves courageous and lined up for battle again in the place where they had lined themselves up on the first day.
- NLT But the Israelites encouraged each other and took their positions again at the same place they had fought the previous day.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Undeterred, Israel encouraged one another and re-formed their lines for a second day of battle.
Overview
Rather than abandoning the cause, the men of Israel strengthened themselves and prepared to fight again in the same place. Their persistence is admirable, yet the repeated returning to inquire of God (v.23) shows their dawning realization that they cannot win on their own terms. Perseverance must be joined to humble dependence on God to bear fruit.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Judg 20:17The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mobilized 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior.
- Judg 20:15On that day the Benjamites mobilized 26,000 swordsmen from their cities, in addition to the 700 select men of Gibeah.
- 1 Sam 30:6And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.
- 2 Sam 11:25Then David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Do not let this matter upset you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him with these words.”
- Ps 64:5They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say.
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Christ at the center
Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.
How Judges 20:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.