SEV Biblia, Chapter 20:18
¶ Luego se levantaron los hijos de Israel, y subieron a la Casa de Dios, y consultaron a Dios, diciendo: ¿Quién subirá de nosotros el primero en la guerra contra los hijos de Benjamín? Y el SEÑOR respondió: Judá será el primero.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Judges 20:18
Verse 18. Went up to the house of God] Some think that a deputation was sent from Shiloh, where Phinehas the high priest was, to inquire, not concerning the expediency of the war, nor of its success, but which of the tribes should begin the attack. Having so much right on their side, they had no doubt of the justice of their cause. Having such a superiority of numbers, they had no doubt of success. See the note on ver. 1. And the Lord said, Judah] But he did not say that they should conquer.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. And the children of Israel arose , etc.] From Mizpeh, where they were assembled, having heard that the Benjaminites were gathered together to defend the men of Gibeah: and went up to the house of God ; to the tabernacle which was in Shiloh, ( Judges 18:31), (see Joshua 18:1) though the Targum takes Bethel for the name of a place so called; and so do Ben Gersom and Josephus f422 , which was near Shiloh, for Shiloh is said to be on the north side of Bethel, ( Judges 21:19) but as there is no reason to believe the tabernacle was now removed from Shiloh thither, so it is not likely they would go to any other place but where the tabernacle ark, and high priest were: and asked counsel of God ; before Phinehas the high priest, according to the judgment of Urim and Thummim, ( Judges 20:28) and said which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin ? there being no supreme magistrate, judge, or general, to lead them; they did not ask whether they should go to war or no with their brethren; they made no doubt of that, taking it for granted they had sufficient reason for so doing, and that it was according to the will of God; nor did they inquire whether they should be victorious or not, they made no doubt of being victorious, both from their superior numbers, and the justness of their cause; they only inquire who should lead them on, having no general; and this they might do, to prevent any contentions among them about being precedence: and the Lord said, Judah shall go up first : which tribe pitched their standard first about the tabernacle, and marched first in their journeys in the wilderness, and was ordered to go up first and fight the Canaanites, being a powerful and warlike tribe.
Matthew Henry Commentary
The tribe of Benjamin nearly extirpated.
--The Israelites' abhorrence of the crime committed at Gibeah, an their resolution to punish the criminals, were right; but they forme their resolves with too much haste and self-confidence. The eterna ruin of souls will be worse, and more fearful, than these desolation of a tribe __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויקמו 6965 ויעלו 5927 בית אל 1008 וישׁאלו 7592 באלהים 430 ויאמרו 559 בני 1121 ישׂראל 3478 מי 4310 יעלה 5927 לנו בתחלה 8462 למלחמה 4421 עם 5973 בני 1121 בנימן 1144 ויאמר 559 יהוה 3068 יהודה 3063 בתחלה׃ 8462
