| 18. Source Text: Hebrew (WLC) Judges 20:18:1 ⧉וַיָּקֻ֜מוּvayakumuand they arose Judges 20:18:2 ⧉וַיַּעֲל֣וּvayaaluand they went up Judges 20:18:3 ⧉בֵֽית־אֵל֮betelto Bethel Judges 20:18:4 ⧉וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּvayishealuand they inquired Judges 20:18:5 ⧉בֵאלֹהִים֒beelohimof God Judges 20:18:6 ⧉וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vayomeruand they said Judges 20:18:7 ⧉בְּנֵ֣יbenesons of Judges 20:18:8 ⧉יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyisraelIsrael Judges 20:18:9 ⧉מִ֚יmiwho Judges 20:18:10 ⧉יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֣נוּyaalelanushall go up for us Judges 20:18:11 ⧉בַתְּחִלָּ֔הbatekhilaat the beginning Judges 20:18:12 ⧉לַמִּלְחָמָ֖הlamilkhamato the battle Judges 20:18:13 ⧉עִם־בְּנֵ֣יimbenewith the sons of Judges 20:18:14 ⧉בִנְיָמִ֑ןbinyaminBenjamin Judges 20:18:15 ⧉וַיֹּ֥אמֶרvayomerand he said Judges 20:18:16 ⧉יְהוָ֖הyahwehthe LORD Judges 20:18:17 ⧉יְהוּדָ֥הyehudaJudah Judges 20:18:18 ⧉בַתְּחִלָּֽה׃batekhilaat the beginning |
| 18. Formal Translation And they rose and went up to Bethel, and they asked of God {Elohim, Divine Guide}. The sons of Israel said, “Who shall go up first for us in battle against the sons of Benjamin?” And the LORD {Yahweh, Supreme Commander} said, “Judah shall go up first.” |
| 18. Dynamic Translation The Israelites went up to Bethel and sought counsel from God {Elohim, Divine Leader}. They asked, “Which tribe should lead us first in fighting Benjamin?” The LORD {Yahweh, Battle Decider} answered, “Judah is to go first.” |