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.)
Ver. 23. Wept before the Lord until even.] Yet more for their losses than for their offences: at least, they were not yet so thoroughly humbled, their repentance was not so deep and downright, so soaking and souring with the greatness of godly sorrow, as was fitting. David's heart was leavened. Psa 73:21 "Peter wept bitterly," Mat 26:75 and that for sin as it is sin, offensivum Dei, et aversivum a Deo, an offence against God, and an aversion from God.
Go up against him.] Thy brother though he be. They neither prayed for success, nor doth God promise them any; but answereth them according to the idols of their hearts, of which they had not yet repented. They had forgotten, belike, what Joshua had foretold them; Jos 24:19-20 - "Ye cannot serve the Lord," i.e., unless ye will be thorough in his service, "for he is a holy God, he is a jealous God, he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If ye fosake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good."