What should have been a night of hospitality among his brother Israelites for a traveling Levite and his party ends with the rape and death of his concubine. We may not accept this relationship, yet the man was her husband in Judges 19:3 and he reacted badly not only to her death but to the manner of her death and he sent pieces of her body all across Israel so all would know the evil thing that had happened. All of Israel reacted, ready to make war against those that had committed this act. And justice might have been done, but Benjamin chose to protect Gibeah and those that had raped and murdered and they rose up to oppose their brothers, the other tribes of Israel. Everyone lost and Benjamin was devastated in Judges 20:48.
No One Took Them In To Spend The Night
Judges 19:11–21
This man, the Levite living as a foreigner, though he was traveling as any in their day would have, he refuses to go into “the city of the Jebusites” in Judges 19:11. Instead, they march on to a city of “the Israelites” in
Judges 19:13 And he said to his servant, “Come, let us approach one of these places; we will spend the night in Gibeah or in Ramah.”
They had an expectation of hospitality from “the Israelites” as was the custom. We understand this mindset from
Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect hospitality, because through this some have received angels as guests without knowing it.
and Jesus said it this way in
Matthew 25:34–35 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world! 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me as a guest,
However, in Judges 19:15 “no one took them in”. Later, “an old man was coming from his work … in the evening” in Judges 19:16 and inquired about their situation. The Levite responded, “there is no lack of anything” in Judges 19:19 though the offer of hospitality would normally include food and shelter and care for the animals. But the man responded and their need for the night was fully met in
Judges 19:20 And the old man said, “Peace to you. I will take care of your needs; however, you must not spend the night in the open square.”
The Men of The City Pounding On The Door
How Did This Evil Act Occur
Judges 20:1–11
Israel is unaware of the depravity that has taken hold in some areas until the body parts of a woman show up to the leaders of every tribe. This act caused an uproar as it should have and in
Judges 20:1 All the Israelites went out, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and they gathered as one body to Yahweh at Mizpah.
and the didn’t just gather for a parley, they came armed for battle in
Judges 20:2 And the leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand sword-bearing infantry.
They all had one question on their minds in Judges 20:3 “Tell us, how did this evil act occur?” so the Levite tells them about the rape of his concubine in Judges 20:4-7 and asks them what they will do about it. And all Israel responds together in Judges 20:8-11 “as one body” and agree to go, four-hundred thousand armed men, to “Gibeah of Benjamin”.
This might have ended with the lives of the few men in Gibeah that were responsible, but as often happens, others of Benjamin were offended at the charges, not to seek justice, but they were angered and banded together to defend all of Benjamin. Rather than fix the problem by removing evil from their midst, they instead amassed twenty-six thousand sword-bearing men to fight Israel, their brothers, now, their enemy in a civil war.
Benjamin Gathered For Battle Against The Israelites
Judges 20:12–21
Israel sends messengers in
Judges 20:12–13 Then the tribes of Israel sent men throughout all the tribes of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that happened among you? 13 So then, hand over the men, the perverse lot, who are in Gibeah, so that we may kill them and purge this wickedness from Israel.” But the descendants of Benjamin were not willing to listen to the voice of their relatives, the Israelites.
This might have ended with the lives of the few men in Gibeah that were responsible, but as often happens, others of Benjamin were offended at these charges and reacted to defend Benjamin. They were not seeking justice but were angered and banded together in self-defense. Rather than fix the problem by finding the evildoers and removing evil from their midst, they instead amassed twenty-six thousand sword-bearing men to fight Israel, their brothers, now, their enemy in a civil war in
Judges 20:15 From the cities the descendants of Benjamin were counted on that day twenty-six thousand sword-wielding men, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred well-trained men.
So, on one side in
Judges 20:19 And the Israelites got up in the morning, and they encamped against Gibeah.
and on the other side in
Judges 20:21 The descendants of Benjamin went out from Gibeah, and they struck down on that day twenty-two thousand men of Israel to the ground.
and on day two, Israel loses more men in
Judges 20:25 And Benjamin went out from Gibeah to meet them on the second day, and they struck down the Israelites again, eighteen thousand men to the ground; all of these were sword-wielding.
but Benjamin then lost nearly all of their fighting force in
Judges 20:46 So all of Benjamin who fell on that day were twenty-five thousand sword-wielding men; all of these were able men.
and Benjamin lost all the cities and people and animals that Israel found in
Judges 20:48 And the men of Israel returned to the descendants of Benjamin, and they put them to the edge of the sword, both the inhabitants of city and the animals that were found; they also set on fire all the cities that they found.
And The Israelites Inquired of Yahweh
Judges 20:22–31
The Cloud of Smoke Began To Go Up From The City
Judges 20:32–41
Men From Benjamin Fell
Judges 20:42–48
Study Verses
- Judges 19:11–21 No One Took Them In To Spend The Night
- Judges 20:1–11 How Did This Evil Act Occur
- Judges 20:12–21 Benjamin Gathered For Battle Against The Israelites
Today’s Reading
- Judges 19:11-30
- Judges 20:1-48