Judges 20:26

“Then all the children of Israel and all the people went up, and came unto the house of God, etc.] This looks as if the whole body of the army, with other people from parts adjacent, went up to the tabernacle of God in Shiloh: and wept and sat there before the Lord; not only wept, but continued weeping, and that not merely for their defeat, but for their sins, since it follows: and fasted that day until even; afflicted their bodies with fasting, which was a token of the humiliation of their souls for their sins: and offered burnt offering’s and peace offerings before the Lord, to make atonement for their sins, and to implore success on their arms.”

“Fasted until even - The regular time for ending a fast among the Hebrews was sunset (compare 1 Samuel 14:24; 2 Samuel 1:12). Such national fasts are called by the rabbis “fasts of the congregation,” and were enjoined in times of great affliction. On the offerings, see Lev. i., 3. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Fasted - Sensible of their not being truly humbled for their sins, which now they discover to be the cause of their ill success. Burnt, &c. - To make atonement to God for their own sins. Peace - offerings - To bless God for sparing so many of them, whereas he might justly have cut off all of them when their brethren were slain: to implore his assistance, yea and to give thanks for the victory, which now they were confident he would give them. Judges 20:28”

“all the children: Jdg 20:18, Jdg 20:23 wept: Sa1 7:6; Ch2 20:3; Ezr 8:21, Ezr 9:4, Ezr 9:5; Joe 1:14, Joe 2:12-18; Jon 3:5-10 Judges 20:27”

“After this second terrible overthrow, "the children of Israel" (k.e. those who were engaged in the war), and "all the people," i.e., the rest of the people, those members of the congregation who were not capable of bearing arms, old men and women, came to Bethel, to complain to the Lord of their misfortune, and secure His favour by fasting and sacrifices. The congregation now discovered, from this repeated defeat, that the Lord had withdrawn His grace, and was punishing them. Their sin, however, did not consist in the fact that they had begun the war itself-for the law in Deu 22:22, to which they themselves had referred in Jdg 20:13, really required this - but rather in the state of mind…”