When the Lord’s messenger finished speaking these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly.

So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, weeping loudly and uncontrollably.

The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until evening. They asked the Lord, “Should we again march out to fight the Benjaminites, our brothers?” The Lord said, “Attack them!”

So all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel. They wept and sat there before the Lord; they did not eat anything that day until evening. They offered up burnt sacrifices and tokens of peace to the Lord.