Judges 21:2

2 But the people came to Bethel and sat there until evening before God, raising their voices and crying 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 The Israelites had made a pledge at Mizpah, declaring, "None of us will allow his daughter to marry a Benjaminite."

2 But the people came to Bethel and sat there until evening before God, raising their voices and crying bitterly.

3 "LORD, God of Israel," they said, "why has this happened among us that as of today one tribe will be missing from Israel?"

4 And the next day, the people got up early and built an altar there. They offered entirely burned offerings and well-being sacrifices.

5 Then the Israelites asked, "Were there any out of all the tribes of Israel who didn't march up to the assembly before the LORD?" Indeed, they had made a solemn pledge that anyone who didn't march up before the LORD at Mizpah would be put to death.