Previously, Israel asked whether they should continue to force battle upon Benjamin (see Judges 20:23). It was a question of tactics. Now it is a question of whether or not Israel should quit: Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?
They will only go if they have to. They have swung from an unrealistic optimism
to a panicked pessimism.
And that is of course understandable, given their heavy losses. If they continue to fight as they have, they will soon have no army at all; the leadership will be abandoned by whoever is left over of the army.1
28 and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?” And the LORD said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”