King James Version

What Does Judges 20:26 Mean?

Judges 20:26 in the King James Version says “Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God , and wept, and sat there b...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Judges 20:26 · KJV

Peace

Context

24

And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

25

And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

26

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.

27

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

28

And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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—now comprehensive response: 'all Israel,' 'all the people,' corporate weeping, sitting before the LORD (posture of humility/mourning). And fasted that day until even (וַיָּצוּמוּ בַיּוֹם הַהוּא עַד־הָעָרֶב)—adding fasting to weeping. And offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD (וַיַּעֲלוּ עֹלוֹת וּשְׁלָמִים)—burnt offerings (עֹלָה, total consecration) and peace offerings (שֶׁלֶם, fellowship/communion with God).

After 40,000 casualties, Israel finally seeks God properly. The contrast with verses 18 and 23 is striking: before = brief inquiry; now = comprehensive corporate humility with weeping, fasting, and sacrifice. This verse demonstrates that God sometimes must break us thoroughly before we seek Him rightly. Israel's initial confidence in their righteous cause and superior numbers prevented genuine humility. Two devastating defeats humbled their pride and drove them to proper worship. The burnt offering expresses total consecration to God; the peace offering acknowledges need for reconciliation with Him. When paired, these sacrifices represent complete surrender and restored fellowship. Sometimes our best plans must completely fail before we're ready to truly seek God's way.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Burnt offerings and peace offerings represented the most solemn form of covenant renewal and divine consultation. The burnt offering was completely consumed, symbolizing total dedication to God (Leviticus 1). Peace offerings were partially eaten by worshipers, symbolizing restored fellowship (Leviticus 3). The combination indicated Israel finally approached God with proper heart attitude rather than presumptuous demands for rubber-stamp approval.

Reflection Questions

  1. What defeats has God used to drive you from shallow consultation to complete surrender?
  2. How do you move from presumptuous demands for God's blessing to humble seeking of His will?
  3. What does proper seeking look like—combining weeping, fasting, sacrifice, and genuine submission?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
וַֽיַּעֲל֛וּ1 of 24

“and offered”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

כָל2 of 24
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

בְּנֵי֩3 of 24

“Then all the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל4 of 24

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

וְכָל5 of 24
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָעָ֜ם6 of 24

“and all the people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ7 of 24

“and came”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בֵֽית8 of 24

“unto the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

אֵ֗ל9 of 24
H1008

beth-el, a place in palestine

וַיִּבְכּוּ֙10 of 24

“and wept”

H1058

to weep; generally to bemoan

וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ11 of 24

“and sat”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

שָׁם֙12 of 24
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

לִפְנֵ֥י13 of 24

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

יְהוָֽה׃14 of 24

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וַיָּצ֥וּמוּ15 of 24

“and fasted”

H6684

to cover over (the mouth), i.e., to fast

בַיּוֹם16 of 24

“that day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַה֖וּא17 of 24
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

עַד18 of 24
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

הָעָ֑רֶב19 of 24

“until even”

H6153

dusk

וַֽיַּעֲל֛וּ20 of 24

“and offered”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

עֹל֥וֹת21 of 24

“burnt offerings”

H5930

a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)

וּשְׁלָמִ֖ים22 of 24

“and peace offerings”

H8002

properly, requital, i.e., a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks

לִפְנֵ֥י23 of 24

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

יְהוָֽה׃24 of 24

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 20:26 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 20:26 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 20:23Joel 2:12-18Ezra 9:4-5Judges 20:18Ezra 8:21Jonah 3:5-10

Places in This Verse

Bethel 1Settlement · Modern: Beitin · 31.92°N, 35.24°E69 verses across 12 books
View all places in Judges 20 →

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