Cross Reference JUDGES 20:23 AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WENT UP AND WEPT BEFORE THE LORD UNTIL EVEN AND ASKED COUNSEL OF THE LORD SAYING SHALL I GO UP AGAIN TO BATTLE AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN MY BROTHER AND THE LORD SAID GO UP AGAINST HIM

{Judges 20:23} (And the children 1121 of Israel 3478 went up 5927 z8799 and wept 1058 z8799 before 6440 the LORD 3068 until x5704 even, 6153 and asked y7592 z8799 counsel x7592 of the LORD, 3068 saying, 559 z8800 Shall I go up 5066 z8800 again 3254 z8686 to battle 4421 against x5973 the children 1121 of Benjamin 1144 my brother? 251 And the LORD 3068 said, 559 z8799 Go up 5927 z8798 against x413 him.)

wept:
"Then all¹ the childrenª of Israel,ª and all¹ the people,ª went up,ª ° and cameª ° unto the house² of God,ª ² ° and wept,ª ° and satª ° there¹ beforeª the LORD,ª and fastedª ° that¹ dayª until¹ even,ª and offeredª ° burnt offeringsª and peace offeringsª beforeª the LORD.ª ... And the childrenª of Israelª enquiredª ° of the LORD,ª (for the arkª of the covenantª of Godª [was] there¹ in those¹ days,ª" {Jdg 20:26-27} + "When¹ he slewª ° them, then they soughtª ° him: and they returnedª ° and enquired earlyª ° after God.ª ... Nevertheless they did flatterª ° him with their mouth,ª and they liedª ° unto him with their tongues.ª" {Psa 78:34-36} + "I will go² °¹ [and] returnª ° to¹ my place,ª till¹ ¹ they acknowledge their offence,ª ° and seekª ° my face:ª in their afflictionª they will seek me early.ª °" {Hsa 5:15}

And the:
It seems most evident that the Israelites did not seek the protection of God. When they "went to the house of God," ("And the childrenª of Israelª arose,ª ° and went upª ° to the house² of God,ª ² ° and asked² ° counsel¹ of God,ª and said,ª ° Whichª of us shall go upª ° firstª to the battleª against¹ the childrenª of Benjamin?ª And the LORDª said,ª ° Judahª [shall go up] first.ª" {Jdg 20:18}), it was not to enquire concerning the expediency of the war, nor of its success, but which of the tribes should begin the attack, and here the question is, "Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?" Having so much right on their side, they had no doubt of the justice of their cause, and the propriety of their conduct; and having such a superiority of numbers, they had no doubt of success. But God humbled them, and delivered them into the hands of their enemies; and shewed them that the race was not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.