Judges 20:26

And all the people — i.e., the non-combatants as well as the fighting men.

Unto the house of God. — Rather, to Bethel, as in Judges 20:18.

And wept. — These two battles must have caused an almost universal bereavement. (Comp. Lamentations 2:10; Psalms 137:1; Joel 1:8; Joel 2:12, &c.)

Fasted... until even. — As is still common in the East. (Comp. 1 Samuel 14:24, &c.)

Burnt offerings and peace offerings. — The former were burnt entire, and therefore could not be used for food; of the latter, only a part was consumed, and the rest might be eaten by the worshippers. The distinction between the two was that the burnt offerings typified absolute self-dedication, whereas the peace offerings were mainly eucharistic.