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 20:26KJV
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Judges 20:26 (KJV)

What does Judges 20:26 mean?

Judges 20:26 describes how all the Israelites gathered at the house of God, deeply grieved, where they wept, sat before the LORD, fasted until evening, and offered burnt and peace offerings. This verse shows the people turning to God in sorrow and seeking His guidance after suffering heavy losses in battle.

The setting is during a civil conflict between the tribes of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. After two failed attempts to defeat Benjamin, the Israelites come together at the sanctuary (likely at Bethel), expressing their distress through weeping, fasting, and sacrifices. The verse highlights their collective humility and dependence on God before making further decisions.

The Hebrew behind Judges 20:26

  • "House" (בַּיִת, bayit): This word refers to the sanctuary or sacred place where the Israelites gathered, emphasizing that they sought God’s presence in a specific, holy location.
  • "Fasted" (צוּם, tsum): The word for fasting here means to abstain from food, often as a sign of mourning or seeking divine favor, showing the depth of their distress and seriousness.
  • "Burnt offerings" (עֹלָה, olah) and "peace offerings" (שֶׁלֶם, shelem): These two types of sacrifices represent both atonement (burnt offering) and fellowship or thanksgiving (peace offering), indicating the Israelites’ desire for both forgiveness and restored relationship with God.

Why Judges 20:26 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the Israelites did not act rashly but sought God’s direction through worship, mourning, and sacrifice after their initial failures.
  • It emphasizes the seriousness of their situation and their recognition of needing God’s help, not just military strength, to resolve the conflict.
  • The verse connects to the larger story by showing a turning point: before acting again, the people humble themselves and seek God’s will, which shapes the outcome of the events that follow.

Where else these words appear

“fasted” Hebrew H6684 · used in 17 verses

  • 1 Samuel 7:6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
  • 2 Samuel 12:22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
  • Nehemiah 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

“God” Hebrew H1008 · used in 63 verses

  • Genesis 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
  • Judges 1:22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.
  • 2 Kings 2:23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

“offerings” Hebrew H8002 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
  • Leviticus 9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
  • Joshua 22:27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.

“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.