What Does Judges 20:24 Mean in the King James?
And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The root for coming near also forms the word for an offering brought near, yet here, nearness is armed.
THE MEANING
You see a second-day approach that carries conflict rather than reconciliation. The parties close distance again, and the text leaves the violence visible: proximity can be the next step in a clash.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the assumption that people who draw near are moving toward peace; here, they close distance to continue a battle.
THE ROOT
וַיִּקְרְבוּ
wayyiqrevû
GROWS FROM
קרב
q-r-b
To approach, come near, or draw close.
“came near” in this verse is wayyiqrevû. The same root forms qorban, an offering brought near, and qerev, the inner part or midst. The word family links approach with what is brought into an encounter; here that encounter is armed, with no promise of peace.
ALSO GROWS
qorban: Offering; something brought near
קָרְבָּן
The shared root ties coming near to bringing something into an encounter, while this verse shows that approach can also lead into conflict.
qerev: Inner part, midst
קֶרֶב
This branch carries the root’s range from nearness toward what is within or in the midst; the verse’s approach brings the parties into direct encounter.
THE PATTERN
Coming near is movement into encounter; the one approached gives that nearness its character.
And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.THE THREAD
And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.In Judges, the root q-r-b carries Israel toward Benjamin; here, the same root tells Aaron to approach the altar and bring an offering near. The seed-word can open into either confrontation or offering, the approach itself does not decide which.
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