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Judges 21:2

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 21:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the people came to Beth-el, and sat there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the people came to Beth-el, and sat there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.
Judges 21:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
2And the people came to Beth-el, and sat there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.
3And they said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to-day one tribe lacking in Israel?
4And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings.
5And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up in the assembly unto Jehovah? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up unto Jehovah to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the people came to the house of God, etc.] 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, (<072112>Judges 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,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“To the house of God - It should be, “to Bethel.” See Judges 20:18. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the house: Jdg 21:12, Jdg 20:18, Jdg 20:23, Jdg 20:26; Jos 18:1 lifted: Jdg 2:4; Gen 27:38; Sa1 30:4 Judges 21:3”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification