Judges 20:26

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Israelites, having suffered a second crushing defeat at Gibeah, gather at Bethel to lament before the LORD. They halt their military campaign to fast and present offerings after the battle.

The words — וַ/יַּעֲל֣וּ (va/i.ya.'a.Lu) translates literally as "and they went up," marking their ascent to the sanctuary. בֵֽית\־ (veit-) means "Beth-" or "house," identifying the location as Bethel.

The thread — This gathering extends the cycle in Judges 20:18 and Judges 20:23 where the nation repeatedly ascends to Bethel to weep and inquire of God. The combined fasting and mourning mirrors the posture described in Joel 2:12.

Why it lands — The text records that collective lament and fasting precede the presentation of offerings. It requires the reader to note that strategic pause and sacrifice follow battlefield loss before divine inquiry resumes.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיַּעֲל֣וּva/i.ya.'a.Luand/ they went up כָל־khol-all בְּנֵי֩be.Nei[the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵ֨לYis.ra.'ElIsrael וְכָל־ve./kholand/ all הָעָ֜םha./'Amthe/ people וַיָּבֹ֣אוּva/i.ya.Vo.'uand/ they came בֵֽית־veit-Beth-אֵ֗ל'El-el וַיִּבְכּוּ֙va/i.yiv.Kuand/ they wept וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּva/i.Ye.she.vuand/ they sat שָׁם֙shamthere לִפְנֵ֣יli/f.Nei<to>/ before יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh וַיָּצ֥וּמוּva/i.ya.Tzu.muand/ they fasted בַיּוֹם־va/i.yom-on the/ day הַה֖וּאha./Hu'<the>/ that עַד־'ad-until הָעָ֑רֶבha./'A.revthe/ evening וַֽיַּעֲל֛וּva/i.ya.'a.Luand/ they offered up עֹל֥וֹתo.Lotburnt offerings וּשְׁלָמִ֖יםu./she.la.Mimand/ peace offerings לִפְנֵ֥יli/f.Nei<to>/ before יְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehYahweh

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Judges 20:23 They went up and wept before the LORD until evening, inquiring of Him, “Should we again draw near for battle against our brothers the Benjamites?” And the LORD answered, “Go up against them.”
Joel 2:12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
Judges 20:18 The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied.
Ezra 8:21 And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
Ezra 9:4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.
1 Samuel 7:6 When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
2 Chronicles 20:3 Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.
Joel 1:14 Consecrate a fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
Jonah 3:5 And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least.

Places named

Bethel 1