Judges 21:2

And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;

And the people {H5971} came {H935} to the house {H1004} of God {H430}{H1008}, and abode {H3427} there till even {H6153} before {H6440} God {H430}, and lifted up {H5375} their voices {H6963}, and wept {H1058}{H1065} sore {H1419};

The people came to Beit-El and stayed there before God till evening crying out and weeping.

So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, lifting up their voices and weeping bitterly.

And the people came to Beth-el, and sat there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.

Commentary

Judges 21:2 KJV: "And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;"

Context of Judges 21:2

This verse opens the final chapter of the Book of Judges, revealing the immediate aftermath of a devastating civil war. The preceding chapters (Judges 19-20) describe a heinous crime committed by Benjamite men in Gibeah, leading the other Israelite tribes to retaliate with extreme force, nearly annihilating the tribe of Benjamin. Having sworn a solemn oath at Mizpah (Judges 20:1) not to give their daughters in marriage to Benjamin, the Israelites now face the grim reality: one of the twelve tribes is on the verge of extinction. Their gathering at the "house of God"โ€”likely the tabernacle at Shilohโ€”marks a moment of profound collective grief and dawning realization of their catastrophic actions and the potential breach of God's covenant with Israel.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Profound Grief and Lament: The phrase "wept sore" (Hebrew: bekhi gadol, meaning "a great weeping") emphasizes the depth of their national sorrow. This was not a casual tear, but an overwhelming outpouring of anguish over the devastating consequences of their actions and the potential loss of a tribal inheritance in Israel.
  • Repentance and Seeking God: The act of coming to the "house of God" and abiding "till even before God" signifies a desperate turning to divine presence in their distress. It reflects a plea for guidance and mercy after the horrific events of the war. This collective lament demonstrates a form of repentance, recognizing the tragic outcome of their unchecked vengeance and the need for divine intervention.
  • Consequences of Unchecked Anger and Sin: The verse powerfully highlights the bitter fruits of human fury and rash decisions. What began as a pursuit of justice against evil turned into an act of near-destruction, revealing the destructive power of unbridled human anger and the severe consequences of operating without clear divine direction.
  • Concern for Israel's Unity: Despite the recent conflict, there is an underlying concern for the preservation of the twelve tribes. The weeping shows they understood the importance of each tribe to the collective identity and future of the nation, reflecting a deeper unity that transcended the recent conflict and reminding them of their shared covenant identity.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "wept sore" is vayyivku bekhi gadol (ื•ึทื™ึผึดื‘ึฐื›ึผื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื›ึดื™ ื’ึธื“ื•ึนืœ), which literally means "and they wept a great weeping." This repetition of the verb and noun from the same root intensifies the meaning, conveying an overwhelming and profound sorrow, indicating a public and deeply emotional display of grief. The "house of God" (beit ha'Elohim) refers to the tabernacle, the central place of worship and divine presence during the period of the Judges, signifying that their lament was directed towards God Himself, seeking His counsel and comfort.

Practical Application

Judges 21:2 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking God's wisdom and restraint, even when pursuing justice or dealing with conflict. It teaches us that rash decisions, fueled by anger or a desire for vengeance, can lead to devastating and unintended consequences that we later deeply regret. When we realize the harm caused by our actions or the actions of our community, a posture of deep lament, repentance, and turning to God is the appropriate response. This verse encourages us to grieve over disunity or the potential loss within the community of believers and to always seek reconciliation and preservation, understanding that God desires unity among His people, as seen in Psalm 133:1.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 20:26

    ยถ Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

  • Judges 20:18

    ยถ And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah [shall go up] first.

  • 1 Samuel 30:4

    Then David and the people that [were] with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

  • Genesis 27:38

    And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, [even] me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

  • Judges 20:23

    (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)

  • Judges 2:4

    And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

  • Judges 21:12

    And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which [is] in the land of Canaan.