שופטים, פרק כ׳, פסוק כ״ח

Following two devastating defeats on the battlefield, the Israelites approach God for a third time. However, their attitude has shifted entirely. They no longer come with assumptions, but with genuine humility and a sincere desire for divine guidance.

Leading this inquiry is the High Priest, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron. His complete genealogy is detailed to address a natural doubt: it might be difficult to believe this is the exact same Phinehas from the era of the desert wandering, as he would be over three hundred years old at this point. His extraordinary lifespan was the direct result of God granting him a covenant of peace and life following his zealous actions during the incident at Shittim. Because of this remarkable longevity, some sages identify Phinehas as Elijah the Prophet, though others disagree, maintaining that Elijah actually descended from the tribe of Benjamin [רד״ק].

Phinehas stands before the Ark of the Covenant, fulfilling his role as High Priest by seeking answers for the nation through the Urim and Thummim [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This process of seeking divine counsel was conducted with profound reverence. The individual asking the question stood facing the priest, while the priest faced the Divine Presence. The inquiry was made in complete silence. The divine response then appeared through letters that physically protruded from the priest's breastplate, guided by the Holy Spirit resting upon a priest worthy of such a revelation [רד״ק].

The Israelites now ask a straightforward question: should they continue to fight, or should they stop and withdraw completely? Commentators highlight a fundamental shift between this inquiry and their previous two attempts. In their earlier approaches, the people were not truly seeking God's advice; they merely asked about the future or demanded to know who should lead them. It is even possible that those earlier questions were not presented by Phinehas himself. Because of the flawed nature of those initial inquiries, God provided partial and vague answers, which ultimately led to their defeat as part of a deliberate divine plan.

Now, however, the Israelites ask properly. They are fully prepared to accept a negative response, wanting only to know if they will succeed, and if not, preferring to abandon the campaign entirely. Because they present a clear, practical, and sincere question, God’s response is equally complete, explicit, and decisive. He assures them that they should go into battle, promising that the next day will bring them total victory over their enemies [רלב״ג, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].