When God’s People are moving in the Wrong Direction (Judges 19-21)

The story begins & ends with the refrain: God’s people did not have a righteous ruler to lead. Phinehas, Aaron’s godly grandson was high priest (20:28) indicating this was early in Judges.

1. Moral Rottenness among God’s People (Judges 19)

a) A Levite living in the hill country of Ephraim took a secondary wife/concubine from Bethlehem. She was unfaithful to him & returned to her father’s house.

b) After 4 months, the Levite went to her house to speak to her heart & win her back. Her father extended lavish hospitality for 4 ½ days making it hard to return home.

c) When the Levite insisted on departing, there was little daylight left to travel. They traveled 5 miles north to
Jerusalem but he did not want to stay with Jebusite foreigners. Instead, they traveled about 4 miles north to
Gibeah of Benjamin, expecting to find hospitality with fellow Israelites.

d) In contrast to the concubine’s father & normal treatment of travelers, no one welcomed the Levite into their
home so he stayed in the square. Finally, an old man from Ephraim welcomed them with a merry celebration.

e) Worthless men from Gibeah surrounded the house & demanded the old man give up his visitor to engage in homosexual acts with them (like Sodom, Gen. 19). The host refused (feeling a sacred duty to a male guest) but offered his virgin daughter or the Levite’s concubine for their sexual pleasure.

f) When they would not listen, the Levite sized his concubine & gave her to these perverted men. They raped and abused her until morning. The next morning the master insensitively called to his concubine & discovered she died from the abuse.

g) The Levite returned home and cut her body in 12 pieces & sent a piece to each tribe (including Benjamin) implying a great punishment (I Sam. 11:7) if they did not assemble for counsel. The nation was shocked.

h) One gets angry with different participants. It shows how quickly Canaanite culture rubbed off on God’s people. There was rottenness among God’s people needed removed.

2. Civil War among God’s People (Judges 20)

a) Israel leaders with 400,000 foot soldiers (Num. 26:51– 601,730) gathered at Mizpah (⁓3 miles NE of Gibeon). “As one man”- sadly missing with taking the promise land. (v1,8,11). The Levite presented his story glossing over his sinful treatment of his concubine (v4-6).

b) Israel agreed to go against Gibeah as the Lord directed by lot. Gibeah needed punishment for their disgraceful acts/sinful folly (vs. 10). They confronted the tribe/Benjamin to give up Gibeah for destruction. Instead, the tribe gathered for war at Gibeah. Benjamin was favored with choice fighters & 700 men who were deadly accurate with a sling (quite capable of taking their inheritance).

c) Israel became more sensitive & fervent in seeking the Lord as the civil war ensued. Before the first battle, they “inquired of God…who should go up first.” The Lord indicated Judah. Israel lost 22,000. Then they wept before the Lord & inquired of Him about another battle against their brother tribe. The Lord had them go up, but they lost 18,000. Then Israel went to Bethel were the Ark was and wept, fasted & offered burnt & peace offerings to the Lord. They inquired of the Lord whether to go up of cease battling their brother Benjamin. The Lord told them to go & He would deliver Benjamin into their hands.

d) Israel set an ambush & then drew Benjamin out of the city. They burned the city. “The Lord struck Benjamin
before Israel” and Israel destroyed 25,100 (vs. 35). 600 men survived hiding at the rock of Rimmon. Israel destroyed the cities of Benjamin (vs. 47-48).

e) The cancer was removed & the nation was spiritually refined & sensitive.

3. Brotherly Recovery among God’s People (Judges 21)

a) There was a dilemma. At Mizpah, Israel swore not to intermarry with the Benjamites (vs. 1). They needed this same zeal concerning the Canaanites. At Bethel (20:26f), they wept bitterly & mourned that one tribe was almost gone from Israel. They built an altar and offered burnt & peace offerings.

b) Jabesh-gilead put themselves under a curse/ban by not showing at Mizpah. Israel attacked that city sparing 400 virgins to marry the remaining Benjamites (v 8-12). The other 200 men snatched wives for themselves among the Israelite girls who danced at the annual feast in Shiloh (maybe Tabernacles).

c) The aftermath of church discipline though necessary is painful. We should long for the restoration of brotherly & sisterly care. This story shows why God’s people were floundering in spite of God’s presence and great promises.