Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 20:27

"And the children of Israel asked of Jehovah (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days," — Judges 20:27 (ASV)

Inquired of the Lord — that is, of Jehovah, as in Judges 20:23. On the occasion of their first general inquiry (Judges 20:18), it is said that they “enquired of Elohim,” but it is impossible to draw any certain inferences from this change of expression. It is clear, however, that the nation had been thoroughly and beneficially humiliated by these two terrible reverses, and that their approach to Jehovah on this occasion was far more solemn and devout than it had been at first.

Was there — that is, at Bethel, though Bethel has not been mentioned in the English Version, owing to the erroneous rendering of the name by “House of God” in Judges 20:18-26.