Judges 20:28 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Phinehas the son of Eleazar: this is added to give us some light about the time of this history, and to show it was not done in the order in which it is here placed, after Samson's death, but long before. Stood, i.e. ministered, as the word stand oft signifies, as Deuteronomy 10:8, Deuteronomy 18:7 Proverbs 22:29 Jeremiah 52:12, compared with 2 Kings 25:8, because standing is the usual posture of servants. Before it, i.e. before the ark; or, before his, i.e. the Lord's face, or presence; which shows that he was the high priest, for none else might appear there. Or shall I cease? which, if thou requirest, we are willing to do, notwithstanding the provocation they have given us, and our own inclination to revenge. Tomorrow I will deliver them into thine hand: now, when they had sought God after the due order, and truly humbled themselves for their sins, he gives them a full and satisfactory answer to their desires.

Judges 20:28

28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.