Judges 21 2

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;

Judges 21:2 nkjv

Then the people came to the house of God, and remained there before God till evening. They lifted up their voices and wept bitterly,

Judges 21:2 niv

The people went to Bethel, where they sat before God until evening, raising their voices and weeping bitterly.

Judges 21:2 esv

And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.

Judges 21:2 nlt

Now the people went to Bethel and sat in the presence of God until evening, weeping loudly and bitterly.

Judges 21 verses

Judges 21 2 Meaning

Judges 21:2 describes the aftermath of a devastating civil war within Israel. The people assembled at the "house of God," which refers to the tabernacle at Shiloh. They remained there from morning till evening, weeping profoundly and vocally, expressing deep sorrow and despair before God. Their lament was driven by the imminent extinction of the tribe of Benjamin due to their swift and severe retribution and a rash oath, which now presented an unsolvable dilemma regarding the future of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Judges 21 2 Context

Judges 21:2 is situated at the opening of the final chapter of the book of Judges, immediately following the brutal civil war between the unified tribes of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites had initially sworn a harsh oath in Mizpah not to give any of their daughters to the remaining Benjamite men, which was meant to be a form of excommunication for the horrific sin in Gibeah (Judges 19-20). However, the war had resulted in the near annihilation of Benjamin, leaving only 600 men alive and no Benjamite women to propagate the tribe. The realization of this outcome – the loss of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, a direct threat to the covenant promises of a numerous offspring (Gen 12:2; 46:3) and a permanent reduction of their confederation – overwhelmed them with regret and deep sorrow. This despair, combined with their rash oath that prohibited marriage, left them in an seemingly intractable predicament. The verse reflects the culmination of Israel's descent into moral and spiritual chaos, where they acted based on their own "right in their own eyes" (Judg 21:25) rather than divine guidance, leading to devastating and unforeseen consequences.

Judges 21 2 Word analysis

• And the people (וְהָעָם, ve-ha'am): Refers to the collective assembly of the tribes of Israel, minus Benjamin. This emphasizes the communal nature of their distress and accountability.
• came (וַיָּבֹא, vayyavo): Standard narrative verb. It implies an intentional journey and arrival, signifying their earnest purpose.
• to the house of God (בֵּית־אֵל, Beit-El or בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים, beit ha'Elohim): In this context, it refers to the Tabernacle located at Shiloh (Josh 18:1; Judg 18:31). The preceding verses (Judg 20:26-27) clarify that "the ark of the covenant of God was there." The Tabernacle, with the Ark, served as the central place of worship, where divine consultation, sacrifices, and solemn gatherings occurred, signifying a place where God's presence was specifically manifested and where one could draw near to Him for seeking answers, expressing lament, or offering supplication. This location emphasizes the sacred and dire nature of their seeking God's intervention.
• and remained there (וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׁם, vayyeshvu sham): Means they settled or sat there for an extended period. This indicates a solemn and prolonged period of time dedicated to their purpose of lamentation and seeking God, not merely a fleeting visit.
• till evening (עַד־הָעֶרֶב, 'ad-ha'erev): Specifies the duration, indicating a full day (from morning, implicit from such actions typically starting in the morning) of devoted seeking, mourning, and prayer. This suggests a day-long session of solemn reflection and communal anguish.
• before God (לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהִים, lifnei Elohim): This phrase denotes being directly in God's presence, signifying a deep posture of humility, seeking His divine attention, and pouring out their hearts to Him. It underscores the spiritual and theological dimension of their grief, not merely human lamentation.
• and lifted up their voices (וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת־קוֹלָם, vayyiś'u et-qolam): An idiom signifying a loud, audible outcry, often associated with intense emotion, especially grief or pain. This was not silent or restrained weeping but a communal outpouring of raw emotion.
• and wept bitterly (וַיִּבְכּוּ בְּכִי גָדוֹל, vayyivku bechi gadol): Literally "wept a great weeping." This emphasizes the profound depth, intensity, and pervasive nature of their sorrow. It signifies overwhelming grief, contrasting with polite or controlled lament, illustrating true agony over their plight.

Judges 21 2 Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And the people came to the house of God and remained there till evening": This sequence highlights a deliberate, sustained, and formal act of national mourning and divine supplication. It was a communal assembly with the intention of remaining in God's presence for an entire day, signaling the gravity of the crisis.
• "before God, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly": This phrase details the spiritual posture and emotional outpouring. Being "before God" indicates a theological context for their lament – they are seeking divine intervention and expressing their raw agony directly to their Creator. The combination of "lifted up their voices" and "wept bitterly" vividly portrays their overwhelming grief as an unrestrained, intense, and deeply felt cry, far beyond simple sadness, demonstrating a true moment of national agony and potentially repentance.

Judges 21 2 Bonus section

The collective act of sustained lament and seeking God "till evening" signifies the desperate nature of Israel's crisis. It mirrors ancient near eastern mourning rituals and Old Testament examples of communal supplication during times of national distress, emphasizing that true grief and repentance often involve prolonged and visible demonstrations of sorrow. The irony in Judges is stark: the people acted with such decisive and devastating force against their own brethren, driven by anger and perhaps self-righteousness, only to be overwhelmed by grief and powerlessness when faced with the consequences of their actions. This deep sorrow illustrates a profound respect for the divine covenant structure of twelve tribes, which was now in jeopardy due to their choices. This chapter underscores the chaotic spiral that ensued when "there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

Judges 21 2 Commentary

Judges 21:2 reveals a pivotal moment of profound despair and remorse within Israel. Following their swift, brutal, and arguably disproportionate retaliation against Benjamin, which had nearly annihilated the tribe, the remaining Israelites were struck by the devastating reality of their actions and the implications of their hasty oath. Their gathering at Shiloh, "the house of God," signified an acknowledgement that this crisis demanded divine intervention, far beyond human reasoning or solution. Their all-day vigil, accompanied by loud and bitter weeping, was a potent expression of national anguish, shame, and regret. This scene underscores the grim consequences of human will acting without full divine counsel or considering long-term covenant implications. It stands as a stark testament to the chaos of the Judges period where self-righteousness led to fratricide, threatening the very fabric of God's chosen nation. The deep sorrow implies a dawning realization of how far they had strayed from God's commands and the unity He desired for His people.