Judges 20

Jehovah

LORD (Jehovah) — the covenant name, “I AM” / “He who is”

And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first. Judges 20:18

Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ, answers Israel when they ask for counsel at the house of God. The God who guided Israel in the Old Testament is the same Lord who later came as Jesus Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• alludes to Judges 1:1-2 — Verified: Judges 1:1–2 has the same inquiry and the same answer, “Judah shall go up.” The book opens and now closes its wars with the same word from the LORD.
• interpreted by 3 Nephi 15:5 — Verified: the risen Christ declares, “I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel,” identifying the LORD of Israel as Himself.

Jehovah

LORD (Jehovah) — the covenant name

(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.) Judges 20:23

Israel weeps and asks again, and Jehovah answers them. Even in a disaster of their own making, the Lord is still speaking to His covenant people.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

Sacrifice as a similitude of Christ

Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. Judges 20:26

After two defeats Israel humbles itself with weeping and fasting and offers burnt and peace offerings. Scripture states plainly that such sacrifice was a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten, and the peace offering looked forward to the peace He makes between God and man.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him

• interpreted by Moses 5:7 — Verified: “This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father.”
• interpreted by Alma 34:14 — Verified: “this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice… the Son of God.”

Jehovah

LORD (Jehovah) — the covenant name

And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, Judges 20:27–28

Speaking through the priest before the ark of the covenant, Jehovah promises, “I will deliver them into thine hand.” The Lord of the covenant is the Deliverer, and He keeps His word.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• fulfilled by Judges 20:35 — Verified: the next day “the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel,” exactly as promised.

Jehovah

LORD (Jehovah) — the covenant name

And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword. Judges 20:35

The narrator credits the victory to Jehovah rather than to Israel's ambush. The Lord who promised deliverance is the one who gives it.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• fulfils Judges 20:28 — Verified: fulfils the promise “to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.”