The Israelites went up seeking direction from the Lord. (In those days the Ark of the Covenant of God was in Bethel,
Parallel translations
- WEB The children of Israel asked Yahweh (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
- KJV And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
- BSB And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,
- NKJV So the children of Israel inquired of the Lord (the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
- NASB And the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
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
Israel inquired of Yahweh, for the ark of the covenant was at Bethel in those days.
Overview
The narrator notes that the ark, the visible sign of God's covenant presence and throne, was present, lending weight to the inquiry. This detail also dates the events early in the period of the judges, near the time of the conquest generation. The ark points forward to Christ, in whom God truly dwells among his people and through whom we draw near to God (Hebrews 9:11-12).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Sam 4:3–4When the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has Yahweh defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us get the ark of Yahweh’s covenant out of Shiloh and bring it to us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.”
- Josh 18:1The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The land was subdued before them.
- Judg 20:18The children of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God. They asked, “Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” Yahweh said, “Judah first.”
- Num 27:21He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”
- Judg 20:23The children of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until evening; and they asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?” Yahweh said, “Go up against him.”
- Ps 78:60–61So that he abandoned the tent of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
- Isa 59:1Behold, Yahweh’s hand is not shortened, that it can’t save; nor his ear dull, that it can’t hear.
- Jer 7:12“But go now to my place which was in Shiloh, where I caused my name to dwell at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 20:27 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.