The Moral Ruin of Israel: Understanding Judges 19

Judges 19

1 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.

2 And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him to her father’s house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.

3 And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly to her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father’s house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

4 And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he stayed with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

5 And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel’s father said to his son in law, Comfort your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.

6 And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel’s father had said to the man, Be content, I pray you, and tarry all night, and let your heart be merry.

7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.

8 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the damsel’s father said, Comfort your heart, I pray you. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.

9 And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel’s father, said to him, Behold, now the day draws toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day grows to an end, lodge here, that your heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that you may go home.

10 But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.

11 And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, Come, I pray you, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.

12 And his master said to him, We will not turn aside here into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.

13 And he said to his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

14 And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them when they were by Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.

15 And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.

16 And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.

17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Where go you? and from where come you?

18 And he said to him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from there am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receives me to house.

19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your handmaid, and for the young man which is with your servants: there is no want of any thing.

20 And the old man said, Peace be with you; howsoever let all your wants lie on me; only lodge not in the street.

21 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender to the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

22 Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into your house, that we may know him.

23 And the man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my brothers, no, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this folly.

24 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble you them, and do with them what seems good to you: but to this man do not so vile a thing.

25 But the men would not listen to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth to them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

26 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till it was light.

27 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were on the threshold.

28 And he said to her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up on an ass, and the man rose up, and got him to his place.

29 And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.

30 And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.

Judges 19 serves as a somber warning regarding the depths of moral degradation that occur when a society turns away from God and indulges in base passions Judges 19:1-303Red 92.2. This narrative records a terrible outrage committed in Gibeah, a city of Benjamin, which eventually led to the near total extirpation of that tribeETI Gibeah.2+1.

The Journey to Gibeah

The account begins with a Levite traveling from Bethlehem-Judah toward Mount Ephraim with his servant and his concubine Judges 19:1-3SITI August 5, 1886, page 474.3. As the sun went down, they arrived in Gibeah, a city belonging to the tribe of Benjamin Judges 19:14SBD Gibe-ah.4. Despite the custom of hospitality, no one in the city offered them shelter until an old man, originally from Mount Ephraim but sojourning in Gibeah, invited them into his home to wash their feet and eat Judges 19:15-21SITI August 5, 1886, page 474.3.

The Wickedness of the Sons of Belial

The atmosphere of peace was shattered when "sons of Belial"—a term signifying vileness and wickedness—beset the house, demanding that the Levite be brought out to be abused Judges 19:22BHOTV4 16.1+1. These men were governed by unbridled impulse and base lusts, showing a complete lack of the fear of God1MCP 225.1+1. In a desperate attempt to protect his guest, the host offered his daughter and the Levite's concubine, but the mob refused until the Levite forcibly sent his concubine out to them Judges 19:24-25.

The Tragic Outcome and Moral Ruin

The woman was abused throughout the night and was found dead on the threshold of the house the following morning Judges 19:25-27KJV — Judges 19:27. This horrifying event mirrors the spiritual darkness and depravity of Sodom, illustrating what happens when men yield their powers to Satan and their lower natures are fully developed5MR 416.3+1. The Levite, in an act of stern and terrible justice intended to rouse the nation, divided her body into twelve pieces and sent them throughout Israel to expose the "folly" and "lewdness" committed in the land Judges 19:29-30KJV — Judges 19:27.

Spiritual Lessons from the Narrative

• The Danger of Compromise: This tragedy occurred in a time of religious declension when there was no king and every man did what was right in his own eyes Judges 19:14SP 175.2.

• Separation from Evil: There can be no concord between Christ and Belial, and the failure of the Benjamites to separate themselves from the "children of iniquity" led to their disastrous defeat in battle Hosea 10:9KJV — Judges 20:20+1.

• Indifference and Corruption: The account highlights how intemperance and passion becloud the faculties, leading to a state where truth falls in the street and equity cannot enter Isaiah 59:14DD 31.1.

• The Necessity of Divine Light: Only the presence of Jesus and the Word of God can stay the tide of corruption that floods the heart when it is separated from its Creator3Red 92.2+1.

Ultimately, Judges 19 stands as a witness to the fact that God will judge iniquity and that those who choose the friendship of the world and the spirit of rebellion place themselves on Satan's ground5T 340.1+2.