Notes: June 9, 2008 - Judges 19

Bob Feather June 9th, 2008

Immorality in Israel

Chronology note:

This event took place when Jerusalem was not in Israelite control (Judges 19:10,12); and Phineas was high priest (Judges 20:28); and there was no king (or judge) in control (Judges 21:25; 19:1). Therefore, historically, this narrative of Benjamite immorality, along with the Danite idolatry of chapters 17 and 18, belongs with earlier events in the book.

Geography note:

The central person in this event was a Levite from Bethelehemjudah, a city mentioned earlier with reference to another Levite (Judges 17:7-9) and later with reference to the ancestors of an Israelite king (Ruth 1:1-2; 1 Samuel 17:12), and even the Messiah.

Linguistic note:

Only the naive or willfully ignorant would suggest that when the city’s men wanted to “know” the visitor from another town (Judges 19:22), what they desired was to inquire of his genealogy and occupation. The old man, who offered his daughter (Judges 19:24), understood what the wicked mob wanted. And subsequent details prove that they wanted “carnal knowledge” (Judges 19:25).

Historical note:

Read again the sad story of Lot and the Angels in Sodom (Genesis 19:6-8). Who would believe that privileged Israelites could be so depraved?

Theological note:

Homosexuality was, and still is an abominable sin and a sign of depravity and estrangement from God (Leviticus 18:22; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10; Romans 1:24,28).

Sociology note:

Whatever other details may be true, the concubine was truly a wife, else how could she be charged with adultery (Judges 19:2) and the man considered to be her husband (Judges 19:3) and son-in-law to her father (Judges 19:4,7)?

Yet, one wonders what kind of love the Levite had for his wife, because he quickly offers her to the devilish crowd in order to save his own life (Judges 19:25). Should not the husband love his wife, and be willing to die for her (Ephesians 5:25-29)?

The same question arises about the old man’s love for his daughter (Judges 19:24).

Psychology note:

What would cause the Levite to become so incensed at the death of his concubine wife that he would cut her lifeless body into 12 pieces and send them around the country (Judges 19:29-30). Yes, he wanted to make a statement; and yes, that statement needed to be made; and yes, his statement had the desired effect. But the question remains: should he have done it?

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Judges 19:10,12
10But 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.
12And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.
Judges 20:28
28And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.
Judges 21:25; 19:1
191And 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.
2125In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Judges 17:7-9
7And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
8And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
9And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.
Ruth 1:1-2
1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
1 Samuel 17:12
12Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
Judges 19:22
22Now 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 spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
Judges 19:24
24Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.
Judges 19:25
25But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto 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.
Genesis 19:6-8
6And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
8Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
Leviticus 18:22
22Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
1 Corinthians 6:9
9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Timothy 1:10
10For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Romans 1:24,28
24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Judges 19:2
2And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.
Judges 19:3
3And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto 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.
Judges 19:4,7
4And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.
7And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.
Judges 19:25
25But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto 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.
Ephesians 5:25-29
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Judges 19:24
24Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.
Judges 19:29-30
29And 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.
30And 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 unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.

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