The people living in Gibeah had roots in Jabesh-gilead (Judges 21:8–14). The men of Benjamin who lived in this town had previously taken four hundred wives from Jabesh-gilead. As a result, there were strong family connections between the two towns. This is likely part of the reason that the messengers came to visit them first.1 The people of the town wept aloud because they did not think that anything could be done to help their compatriots.2 At the time, weeping aloud was a common display of helplessness, grief, or remorse (Judges 2:4; 1 Samuel 24:16; 2 Samuel 3:32; 2 Samuel 13:36).3
4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud.