King James Bible
"And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you."
The Israelites, having disobeyed God's command not to attack the Amorites after their refusal to enter Canaan, came back defeated and mourned before Him. Their weeping represents remorse after experiencing the consequences of their rebellion, not genuine repentance before their disobedience. God's refusal to listen demonstrates that tears alone cannot reverse the consequences of willful disobedience. This divine silence serves as judgment for their earlier rejection of His promise at Kadesh-barnea. The parallel phrase emphasizes the completeness of God's withdrawal—He neither heard nor attended to their cries. This teaches that some opportunities, once spurned through unbelief, cannot be reclaimed through emotional appeals.