Judges 21:2

Jdg 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;

Ver. 2. And the people came to the house of God.] That is, To Shiloh, for that was now their Bethel, there to praise God for their recent ctory; and to seek direction what to do, and how to wind out of that labyrinth whereinto they had inconsiderately cast themselves.

“ … qui non moderabitur irae,

Infectum velit esse dolor quod suaserit et mens. ” - Horat.

And abode there till even before God.] To the shame of such as, held but a while longer than ordinary at holy meetings, cry out, as Mal 1:13, "Behold, what a weariness it is! and snuff." They sit in the stocks when they are at prayers, and come out of the church, when the tedious sermon runs somewhat beyond the hour, like prisoners out of a jail.

And lifted up their voices, and wept sore.] Notwithstanding their recent victory, which now they met to praise God for, Adeo nihil est ex omni parte beatum. It is seldom seen that God alloweth men here a perfect contentment. Something they must have to complain of, that they may not set up their rest on this side heaven.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Jdg 21:2. And lift up their voices and wept sore — Some days after their fury was over, and they coolly considered what they had done in the heat of war, their joy and triumph for their victory were turned into mourning and lamentation, for the loss of so many of their brethren.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 2. The people came to the house of God] Literally, the people came בית־אל to Bethel; this is considered as the name of a place by the Chaldee, Syriac, Arabic, and Septuagint.

And wept sore] Their revenge was satisfied, and now reflection brings them to contrition for what they had done.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(2) To the house of God.—Rather, to Bethel, as in Jdg_20:18; Jdg_20:27.

Wept sore.—As after their defeat (Jdg_20:26); but this time they were remorseful for the fate of those whom they were then pledged to destroy.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2. came to Beth-el] The characteristics of the B narrative reappear in this chapter: the resort to Beth-el till even cf. Jdg_20:18; Jdg_20:26; the weeping, intensified each time, cf. Jdg_20:23; Jdg_20:26; the offering of sacrifices Jdg_21:4 cf. Jdg_20:26; the post-exilic congregation (Jdg_21:10; Jdg_21:13; Jdg_21:16), and the assembly (Jdg_21:5; Jdg_21:8) cf. Jdg_20:1 n.; the artificial numbers Jdg_21:10.

The Vulgate renders ‘Veneruntque omnes ad domum Dei, in Silo,’ following the theory noticed in Jdg_20:18 n.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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, Jdg 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.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

To the house of God - It should be, “to Bethel.” See Jdg 20:18.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Silo. Hebrew simply, "to Bethel," as chap. xx. 18. Septuagint (Alexandrian), "to Maspha and Bethel." (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

The people came to the house of God; partly to mourn for the common loss, and partly to ask counsel from God about the repairing of it.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

2. House of God — Rather, Beth-el; see notes on Jdg_20:18; Jdg_20:26-27.

Abode… before God — In solemn penitence and humiliation before the ark of the covenant which was there.

Wept sore — Not so much over their sins, as over the calamities of Benjamin.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the people, etc. The narrative now proceeds. After the people, i.e. the Israelite army, so described Jud_1:20:3, 8, 22, etc., had finished the work of destruction in the cities of Benjamin, they returned to Bethel, (the house of God, A.V, here and in Jud_1:20:18, 26, 31, where see notes) and, their rage having now subsided, gave way to violent grief on account of the destruction of Benjamin their brother. With passionate Oriental feelings they passed the whole day weeping, and probably fasting, (see Jud_1:20:26) before the tabernacle. Wept sore. Hebrew, wept a great weeping. The expression lifted up their voices shows that it was a loud wailing and lamentation.

HOMILIES BY W.F. ADENEY Vers. 2-4. Sorrow for others.

I IT IS NATURAL TO BE DISTRESSED AT THE TROUBLES OF OTHERS.

1. It is natural on personal grounds. We are members one of another, so that if one member suffer, all suffer. The Israelites felt that it would be a common calamity to the whole nation for one tribe to be blotted out. It would not only be a judgment on that tribe, it would be "a breach in the tribes of Israel." England suffers through the wars and famines and storms which devastate even remote countries. If adversity falls upon one great town, one trade, one class, the whole community feels the effect of it. It is foolish, on selfish considerations alone, for the rich and happy to ignore the distresses of the poor and wretched.

2. But it is natural to be distressed at the troubles of others on unselfish grounds. When we are not hardened by sin we must naturally feel sympathy. The law of Christ requires us to bear one another"s burdens. (Gal_6:2) If Jews of old felt for their brethren in their trouble, how can Christians, who owe all their best blessings to the compassion and suffering of Christ for them, harden their hearts against the cries of the world"s misery, when they in turn are expected to show the spirit of Christ in sympathy and vicarious sacrifice?

II IF WE ARE CALLED TO PUNISH MEN FOR THEIR SIN, WE SHOULD ALSO PITY THEM FOR THEIR DISTRESS. Israel had punished the tribe of Benjamin, but the sight of the ruin thus wrought filled all the people with grief. It is right and necessary to be firm in repressing wickedness; yet this should not be done in hot hatred, in callous sternness, nor in complacent self-satisfaction, but with grief, mourning for the distress, and more for the sin occasioning it. So does God chastise, in grief, like a father loving his child, and therefore the more hating the iniquity which produces all the trouble.

III DISTRESS FOR THE TROUBLES OF OTHERS SHOULD LEAD US TO GOD ON THEIR BEHALF. The people came to the house of God, and wept there before God. We should bring all our trouble before God, and, when we know not what to ask for, confide in him and relieve our souls by leaving the burden with him. If we are really and deeply grieved for others, we shall be constrained to do the same with the sorrow of sympathy. All Christians are called to be priests, intercessors for others. We should pray most earnestly for those who will not pray for themselves. We should humble ourselves for their sin, since the oneness of the human family brings shame upon all when any go astray. Such sorrow before God will incline us to fresh acts of self-sacrifice and dedication. As the Israelites offered burnt offerings, we shall consecrate ourselves to God, that we may be more capable of relieving those for whom we grieve. A.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.