Judges 2:4

4 When the angel of ADONAI spoke these words to all the people of Isra'el, they began crying and wailing at the top of their voices.

Judges 2:4 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 2:4

And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord spake these
words unto all the children of Israel
This being either one of the three solemn feasts, when all the males appeared at the tabernacle of the Lord; or else here was now a solemn convention of all the tribes to inquire of the Lord the reason why they were not able to drive out the Canaanites in some places, and why they prevailed over them in many:

that the people lift up their voice, and wept;
being affected with what the angel said, and convicted in their consciences of their sins, and so fearing the bad consequences thereof, they wept because of the sins they had been guilty of, and because of the evils that were like to befall them on account of them.

Judges 2:4 In-Context

2 you, for your part, are not to make any covenant with the inhabitants of this land but must tear down their altars.' However, you have paid no attention to what I said. What is this you have done?

3 This is why I also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; but they will be on your flanks, and their gods will become a snare for you.'"

4 When the angel of ADONAI spoke these words to all the people of Isra'el, they began crying and wailing at the top of their voices.

5 So they called the name of that place Bokhim [crying] and sacrificed there to ADONAI.

6 When Y'hoshua had sent the people away, the people of Isra'el had gone each one to his assigned property in order to take possession of the land.