Judges 21:2

2 And the people came to Bethel, and sat there until evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.

Judges 21:2 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 21:2

And the people came to the house of God
Not to the city Bethel, as the Targum, Septuagint, and other versions, but to Shiloh, where were the tabernacle and ark; and this is to be understood of the army after they had utterly destroyed the Benjaminites: hence we read of the camp in Shiloh, ( Judges 21:12 ) , here they came not so much to rejoice, and be glad, and to return thanks for the victory they had at last obtained, as to lament the unhappy case of the tribe of Benjamin, and to have counsel and advice, and consider of ways and means to repair their loss:

and abode there till even before God;
fasting and praying, instead of feasting and rejoicing:

and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;
not so much, or at least not only for the 40,000 Israelites that were slain, but for the tribe of Benjamin, in danger of being lost, as follows.

Judges 21:2 In-Context

1 Now the Israelites had sworn at Mizpah, "No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin."

2 And the people came to Bethel, and sat there until evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.

3 They said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, why has it come to pass that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?"

4 On the next day, the people got up early, and built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of well-being.

5 Then the Israelites said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the Lord?" For a solemn oath had been taken concerning whoever did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, "That one shall be put to death."