Judges 2:4
And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
This weeping at Bochim belongs to one of the revivals that took place among God's ancient people, when the people lifted up their voice and wept at the words of the angel of the Lord. That lifting up of the voice and weeping was bowing before God in true penitence, showing genuine contrition and repentance. Their penitence included confession to God and to one another together with sacrifice to the Lord.
Sacrifice without true repentance would have been worthless, but their contrition on this occasion was genuine. As they confessed and sacrificed, the grace of Christ worked in their hearts and God forgave them, so their sins were repented of and forgiven. The revival was genuine and worked a reformation, so they stayed true to the covenant and served the Lord all the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him.
Although their sins were forgiven, the seed of evil had been sown and later sprang up to bear fruit. All who name the name of Christ should read this account carefully and with an understanding heart, searching their own hearts whether they are in the faith.