2 And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;
2 And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.
2 Now, back in Bethel, the people sat in the presence of God until evening. They cried loudly; there was widespread lamentation.
2 Then the people came to the house of God, and remained there before God till evening. They lifted up their voices and wept bitterly,
2 Now the people went to Bethel and sat in the presence of God until evening, weeping loudly and bitterly.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 21:2
Chapter Contents
The Israelites lament for the Benjamites.
Israel lamented for the Benjamites, and were perplexed by the oath they had taken, not to give their daughters to them in marriage. Men are more zealous to support their own authority than that of God. They would have acted better if they had repented of their rash oaths, brought sin-offerings, and sought forgiveness in the appointed way, rather than attempt to avoid the guilt of perjury by actions quite as wrong. That men can advise others to acts of treachery or violence, out of a sense of duty, forms a strong proof of the blindness of the human mind when left to itself, and of the fatal effects of a conscience under ignorance and error.