(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.)

JUDGES 20:23KJV
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Judges 20:23 (KJV)

What does Judges 20:23 mean?

Judges 20:23 describes how the Israelites, after suffering a defeat, went up and wept before the LORD until evening, seeking guidance about whether they should go to battle again against the tribe of Benjamin, their relatives. The LORD responded by telling them to go up against Benjamin.

This verse takes place during a civil conflict in Israel, where the other tribes are fighting against Benjamin because of a terrible crime committed in Gibeah. The Israelites are deeply troubled and seek God’s direction, showing both their grief and uncertainty. The LORD’s answer is clear: He instructs them to proceed, even though it means fighting their own kin.

The Hebrew behind Judges 20:23

  • The word for "wept" (בָּכָה, bakah) emphasizes deep, emotional mourning, not just a simple shedding of tears. This highlights the Israelites’ sorrow and the seriousness of the situation.
  • The phrase "before the LORD" (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, lifnei YHWH) means they presented themselves directly in God’s presence, showing a posture of humility and dependence.
  • The word "again" (יוֹסִיף, yosif) signals that this is not their first attempt; they are returning after a previous failure, which adds to the sense of desperation and persistence in seeking God’s will.
  • The use of "brother" (אָח, ach) when referring to Benjamin underlines the painful reality that this conflict is not with a foreign enemy, but with their own family.

Why Judges 20:23 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the Israelites did not rush into repeated battles blindly; they paused, grieved, and specifically asked God for direction after a setback.
  • The mention of Benjamin as "my brother" highlights the tragedy and complexity of civil strife among God’s people, not just a simple military campaign.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by showing the Israelites’ ongoing struggle to understand God’s will in a difficult and heartbreaking situation, setting up the continued narrative of the conflict.

Where else these words appear

“wept” Hebrew H1058 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
  • Judges 21:2 And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;
  • Esther 8:3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

“up” Hebrew H5066 · used in 112 verses

  • Genesis 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
  • Deuteronomy 25:9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.
  • 2 Kings 4:5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

“even” Hebrew H6153 · used in 130 verses

  • Genesis 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
  • Leviticus 15:18 The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.
  • 1 Kings 17:6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.