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18 They went up to Bethel and consulted God. When the Israelites asked, “Who shall go up first for us to do battle with the Benjaminites?” the Lord said: Judah first.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 20:18 Judah first: as in 1:2, where the enemy is the Canaanites. This time the attack is against fellow Israelites, an indication of how far things have deteriorated in these days when as yet “there was no king in Israel”; see note on 17:6.

18 The Israelites went up to Bethel[a](A) and inquired of God.(B) They said, “Who of us is to go up first(C) to fight(D) against the Benjamites?”

The Lord replied, “Judah(E) shall go first.”

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 20:18 Or to the house of God; also in verse 26