P a g e | Judges 19-21 · The Levite's Concubine 19:1 And it came to pass in those days, when there...
Transcript of P a g e | Judges 19-21 · The Levite's Concubine 19:1 And it came to pass in those days, when there...
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P a g e | 1
Judges 19-21
Good evening, church.
Tonight we are going to finish the book of Judges, we
will be in Chapters 19-21.
Let us pray before we move on…
As we mentioned last time, chapters 17-21 are an
appendix to the Book of Judges.
Last time we saw the downfall of Israel began with
religious apostasy as we saw Micah’s idols and his
priest blended Canaanitish religion with Hebrew
Religion.
The Covenant People of God were on a downward
spiral, and the syncretistic religion of the day, that
made all belief’s equal beliefs was destroying the
foundations of True Worship.
We saw Israel’s failure began in the home, and as the
home goes, so does the country.
Now, from Israel’s religious apostasy we will move on
into the second phase, moral misery.
You see once Truth crumbles in the home, society then
crumbles under gross immorality.
And tonight, we will see the horribleness of a self-
centered society over a God-centered society.
The parallels to our current time and culture are
frightening.
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Understand these last three chapters of Judges are
stomach turning and horrible, but they could easily be
today’s headlines in the United States.
The breakdown of family and Christian values in our
country have brought us into a dark and dreadful part
of history.
So, we will see here in Judges 19-21 another Levite
from the mountains of Ephraim, who will be as corrupt
as the last Levite in our former account.
The writer once again will point out that there was no
king in Israel.
Remember God was supposed to be their King.
They were a nation unlike any other nation, in that,
God dealt with them directly and He was to be the
center of their government.
However, in their covenant with Him, there were dire
consequences if they did not keep their end of the
covenant.
Their privileges came with great responsibility.
And here they have rejected their King and His Law,
and there was no central government to enforce the
laws of God.
The tribes at this point were living independently, and
were only concerned with anything that affected them
directly.
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They had lost the heart and conquering spirit of the
unified people of God.
And the account before us is possibly the most
disgusting and degrading in all of the Bible.
So let us read now Chapter 19 verses 1-9…
The Levite's Concubine
19:1 And it came to pass in those days, when there was
no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying
in the remote mountains of Ephraim. He took for
himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. 2 But
his concubine played the harlot against him, and went
away from him to her father's house at Bethlehem in
Judah, and was there four whole months. 3 Then her
husband arose and went after her, to speak kindly to
her and bring her back, having his servant and a couple
of donkeys with him. So she brought him into her
father's house; and when the father of the young
woman saw him, he was glad to meet him. 4 Now his
father-in-law, the young woman's father, detained
him; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate
and drank and lodged there.
5 Then it came to pass on the fourth day that they
arose early in the morning, and he stood to depart; but
the young woman's father said to his son-in-law,
"Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread, and
afterward go your way."
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6 So they sat down, and the two of them ate and drank
together. Then the young woman's father said to the
man, "Please be content to stay all night, and let your
heart be merry." 7 And when the man stood to depart,
his father-in-law urged him; so he lodged there again.
8 Then he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to
depart, but the young woman's father said, "Please
refresh your heart." So they delayed until afternoon;
and both of them ate.
9 And when the man stood to depart — he and his
concubine and his servant — his father-in-law, the
young woman's father, said to him, "Look, the day is
now drawing toward evening; please spend the night.
See, the day is coming to an end; lodge here, that your
heart may be merry. Tomorrow go your way early, so
that you may get home."
Our story begins with an unnamed Levite living with a
concubine in the mountains of Ephraim.
A concubine was a second-class wife, who might be a
slave, or a woman with no dowry.
Now, we see this woman was unfaithful, she played
the harlot.
Now, nothing in our text reads that she was sexually
unfaithful, in fact other translations put it as she was
angry with the Levite.
She is the one who leaves, rather than being sent
away.
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It may even be that her unfaithfulness was simply in
the fact that she left the relationship and went back to
her father’s house.
And after 4 months, the Levite realizes his concubine is
not coming back.
So he set out with a servant to prove he was a caring
man, and wanted her back.
His kind words were effective, and she takes him to
meet her father.
Now the concubine’s father was delighted to meet her
man.
They hit it off wonderfully, and had a great feast
together.
They spent 5 days eating, drinking and being merry.
But little did this Levite know, that just around the
corner, horrible days lay ahead.
He is careless and enjoying life.
Much like much many do today.
They focus on enjoying life, and seeking pleasures, and
they think nothing of the accounting God will have in
the near future.
This Levite was a sad picture of the state of Israel,
instead of serving the Lord before the tabernacle, he is
making merry.
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Today the church is called out of this world, and we are
to be God’s representations in this life.
1 Peter 2:9-10 …you are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that
you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you
out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once
were not a people but are now the people of God, who
had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
In 1 Thess. 5:5-6 we are called
…. sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the
night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as
others do, but let us watch and be sober.
We are to live our lives awake, and not caught up in
the amusement of the nightlife.
If this Levite was awake to his calling, surely he would
have avoided what would take place next…
So after the father-in-law attempts to keep the party
going, the man had to get going, but he will get a late
start now…
10 However, the man was not willing to spend that
night; so he rose and departed, and came opposite
Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). With him were the two
saddled donkeys; his concubine was also with him. 11
They were near Jebus, and the day was far spent; and
the servant said to his master, "Come, please, and let
us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and lodge in
it."
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12 But his master said to him, "We will not turn aside
here into a city of foreigners, who are not of the
children of Israel; we will go on to Gibeah." 13 So he
said to his servant, "Come, let us draw near to one of
these places, and spend the night in Gibeah or in
Ramah." 14 And they passed by and went their way;
and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which
belongs to Benjamin. 15 They turned aside there to go
in to lodge in Gibeah. And when he went in, he sat
down in the open square of the city, for no one would
take them into his house to spend the night.
16 Just then an old man came in from his work in the
field at evening, who also was from the mountains of
Ephraim; he was staying in Gibeah, whereas the men
of the place were Benjamites. 17 And when he raised
his eyes, he saw the traveler in the open square of the
city; and the old man said, "Where are you going, and
where do you come from?"
18 So he said to him, "We are passing from Bethlehem
in Judah toward the remote mountains of Ephraim; I
am from there. I went to Bethlehem in Judah; now I
am going to the house of the Lord. But there is no one
who will take me into his house, 19 although we have
both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and
wine for myself, for your female servant, and for the
young man who is with your servant; there is no lack of
anything."
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20 And the old man said, "Peace be with you!
However, let all your needs be my responsibility; only
do not spend the night in the open square." 21 So he
brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the
donkeys. And they washed their feet, and ate and
drank.
The Levite, his servant, and his concubine set out, and
because they got a late start, they had to take refuge in
a city.
The city of Jebus or later Jerusalem was near, but the
heathen Jebusites had not been cast out yet.
The servant asks if they could stay there, but the Levite
is untrusting of those heathens, and wants to press on
a few more miles to Gibeah, where at least they were
Israelites of the Tribe of Benjamin.
Little did he know, that the people of Gibeah had
became even more debased than the heathens around
them, and have fallen to a place equal to that of
Sodom and Gomorrah.
And as the custom of the day was, the travelers would
make their way to the central market places to show
they needed a place to stay.
Even backpackers and travelers today do this in other
countries looking for those who might offer a bed for
the night.
But immediately we see the hospitality of the people
of Gibeah is none existent.
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This is really unthinkable in this culture, that nobody
would welcome a visitor in their home.
But we see an outsider saw the travelers, he is another
man from Ephraim as he is coming in from his fields
offers them a place.
This man, according to the custom of the day would be
responsible for provisions for the travelers, and even
protection for them.
And we see this Levite is seemingly easy to get along
with, because this Ephraimite eats and drinks, and we
read now in verse 22…
Gibeah's Crime
22 As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain
men of the city, perverted men, surrounded the house
and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the
house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who
came to your house, that we may know him carnally!"
23 But the man, the master of the house, went out to
them and said to them, "No, my brethren! I beg you,
do not act so wickedly! Seeing this man has come into
my house, do not commit this outrage. 24 Look, here is
my virgin daughter and the man's concubine; let me
bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them
as you please; but to this man do not do such a vile
thing!" 25 But the men would not heed him. So the
man took his concubine and brought her out to them.
And they knew her and abused her all night until
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morning; and when the day began to break, they let
her go.
26 Then the woman came as the day was dawning, and
fell down at the door of the man's house where her
master was, till it was light.
27 When her master arose in the morning, and opened
the doors of the house and went out to go his way,
there was his concubine, fallen at the door of the
house with her hands on the threshold. 28 And he said
to her, "Get up and let us be going." But there was no
answer. So the man lifted her onto the donkey; and
the man got up and went to his place.
We see a scene here very similar to that of Genesis 19,
and the reception of the angels who visited Sodom.
Remember the condition of Israel was that every
person did what was right in their own eyes.
This kind of relativism breeds this kind of sick activity.
The men of the town want to know the Levite sexually,
they desired to commit homosexual acts upon him.
God’s law clearly defined this act as an abomination.
These are children of the covenant and they show no
more self-control than the neighborhood dog.
They are animals, completely removed from reality and
unconcerned about their God.
We see in this fallen society the low view of woman, as
the host offers his daughter, and eventually the Levite
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tosses his poor trusting concubine out to the beasts of
Gibeah.
Led by their insatiable lusts they ravish her all night as
they gang rape her.
I find it interesting that many churchgoing parents are
appalled at this scene, and they judge the father who
wanted to throw his daughter to these people.
Yet some of these same parents will allow their little
children to watch movies and play video games with
the same kind of filth.
They demand Chastity from their children physically
and allow their minds to be ravished with sex and
violence without a second thought.
They justify it, because it keeps them out of their hair,
and keep the little ones busy.
Chastity of mind and heart are essential for chastity of
the body. Wiersbe
It is any wonder our colleges are filled with debauchery
and sex, and our news is constantly telling us of the
gang rape happening in the younger generation’s
parties.
Don’t you find it interesting that the same Hollywood
demanding equality between men and women in our
society keep producing movies and shows that use
woman as a marketing tool, as they sexually exploit
their bodies?
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Sometimes it is the same women espousing equality
who are putting themselves out as sexual icons.
Or our pop stars, the musicians and artists of our time
are putting forth the same filth, and we let our kids
listen and enjoy the fallen ideas of those singers.
I saw a couple weeks on Spotify a playlists that said
most popular music in the United States, and out of 50
hits today, only 11 were did not have an explicit
warning.
I started at the top, and I could not get 10 seconds into
any of them.
But we let our sons and daughters listen, we hand
them over to the animals of our society, and say “Here
take them.”
We don’t want to invade on their privacy, we want to
give them their space, and their minds are being
ravished.
As the family goes so does the society.
It is time we regained our homes, Revival will start in
our homes.
If we are honest with our society, we are not much
different from this scene.
So the Levite, wakes in the morning,
He only cared for his own well-being and notice in
verse 27, the man arose and sees his poor wife dying
or dead from the horrible night.
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Now, was his merriment and entertainment so joyful
that he did not hear the screams of terror from this
poor woman outside the door.
That means he was able to lie down and sleep while
this woman was abused in the street.
This is appalling, and horrible.
Yet again we see many drunkard fathers, and drug
using mothers who care only for their own comfort
and well-being, they leave their children to the world
to raise them.
How many fathers and mothers sit in prison while their
children fend for themselves in the streets?
And the world steals their souls and minds, and when
the parent eventually awakens, it is all too late, the
child is gone and lost.
I want you all to understand, something right here,
that is very serious.
Our ministry in this neighborhood, is taking on the
mission of meeting the lost kids in our society with
Jesus, so they can have hope.
We are trying with all earnest to sweep these street
kids into a refuge here at the church week after week.
More and more, we are seeing this as mission number
one in our ministry.
And I will plead with you, who are sitting on the fence
with serving the Lord here, now is the time.
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Our society is eating up the younger generation’s
souls, and we need to counter it.
Every week it seems we are getting more and more
new children from the neighborhood, they are
interested in the Jesus we preach.
We cannot close our eyes to this need, we cannot live
as the rest of society does, selfishly, or we are not
much different from the Levite who heartlessly finds
his dead wife on the doorstep.
He sees her and we see his coldness, as he put her on
his donkey and heads home.
Now, let us finish this horrible story, and if you are
sickened right now by our story, you are reading and
understanding it correctly.
The writer is showing the deplorable place a people
without God can go…
It gets worse, look at verse 29…
29 When he entered his house he took a knife, laid
hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve
pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the
territory of Israel. 30 And so it was that all who saw it
said, "No such deed has been done or seen from the
day that the children of Israel came up from the land of
Egypt until this day. Consider it, confer, and speak up!"
The Levite wants retribution for the loss of his
property.
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His poor devalued wife is used to now provoke a huge
response in Israel.
He cuts up is wife into 12 pieces and sends them to
most likely the 12 tribes of Israel with a message and
appeal to make this wrong right.
This man is a hypocrite, however, we don’t know how
he spun the story, but it is obvious that he presents his
case as a victim.
He must have hid the fact that he was a coward, and
did nothing to protect his wife.
It is a sad thing when people make their own truths up,
to provoke a response from the nation.
Who would do such a thing? Well, you might want to
look at our headlines today, Maybe Google Jussie
Smollet.
Still today, people create their own truths to provoke a
response.
So this Levite’s call to arms was dramatic and
successful, as we see next in chapter 20…
Israel's War with the Benjamites
20:1 So all the children of Israel came out, from Dan to
Beersheba, as well as from the land of Gilead, and the
congregation gathered together as one man before the
Lord at Mizpah. 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
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foot soldiers who drew the sword. 3 (Now the children
of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone
up to Mizpah.)
Then the children of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this
wicked deed happen?"
4 So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was
murdered, answered and said, "My concubine and I
went into Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, to spend
the night. 5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me,
and surrounded the house at night because of me.
They intended to kill me, but instead they ravished my
concubine so that she died. 6 So I took hold of my
concubine, cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout
all the territory of the inheritance of Israel, because
they committed lewdness and outrage in Israel. 7
Look! All of you are children of Israel; give your advice
and counsel here and now!"
8 So all the people arose as one man, saying, "None of
us will go to his tent, nor will any turn back to his
house; 9 but now this is the thing which we will do to
Gibeah: We will go up against it by lot. 10 We will take
ten men out of every hundred throughout all the tribes
of Israel, a hundred out of every thousand, and a
thousand out of every ten thousand, to make
provisions for the people, that when they come to
Gibeah in Benjamin, they may repay all the vileness
that they have done in Israel." 11 So all the men of
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Israel were gathered against the city, united together
as one man.
The gruesome message resulted in gathering leaders
and soldiers form the entire nation here, except
Benjamin.
They gathered together to hold a court session to
figure out what they are to do.
After hearing the Levites half-truths they decide
Gibeah is guilty and they needed to be judged.
They agree to confront the people of Gibeah.
Now, please note verse 11, Israel for the first time in
Judges is unified and standing together.
But they are no longer unified against an enemy, they
have come together against their own with a greater
intensity than they did to the people they were
supposed to dispose of out of the land.
I don’t know if you have ever been a part of a church
split, but I have seen one or two.
And I marvel at the intensity the people of God can
come against each other with.
Christians can turn on each other with great vileness
and energy, and I am always left wondering why they
could not use that energy toward the great
commission.
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As Israel had a job to do, in removing the heathen
nations, so the church has a mission in reaching the
unbeliever for Christ.
That mission is what we should gather around, not
factions full of dissatisfied grumblers.
Israel here gathers nobly against itself, and I am sure
their enemies are amused by this.
And the enemy loves it when the church becomes
tribal as well, and we turn we against each other.
Let’s look at these kingless people trying to govern
now in confusion. They will make one foolish mistake
after another.
12 Then the tribes of Israel sent men through all the
tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What is this wickedness
that has occurred among you? 13 Now therefore,
deliver up the men, the perverted men who are in
Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove
the evil from Israel!" But the children of Benjamin
would not listen to the voice of their brethren, the
children of Israel. 14 Instead, the children of Benjamin
gathered together from their cities to Gibeah, to go to
battle against the children of Israel. 15 And from their
cities at that time the children of Benjamin numbered
twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides
the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered seven
hundred select men. 16 Among all this people were
seven hundred select men who were left-handed;
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every one could sling a stone at a hair's breadth and
not miss. 17 Now besides Benjamin, the men of Israel
numbered four hundred thousand men who drew the
sword; all of these were men of war.
Now, we see here when a nation has fallen, it starts
worrying about its own tribe instead of what is right
and best for the whole nation.
Benjamin is not concerned with the sin in its midst,
instead of standing on the side of right, it determines
its tribal allegiance is more important, and they send
an army to stand with the animals of Gibeah.
The writer lets us know that within their ranks were
700 assassins who could sling a stone at a hair’s
breadth and not miss.
And the outnumbered Benjamites send their best, not
to fight against the heathen, but their own nation.
I wonder if we were to honestly assess our own
society.
I wonder if we would see a tribal society or a people
that is looking out for the nation on a whole.
It seems more and more, that we are divided into
groups and segments into our culture.
And people will stand with people of their tribe, and
only want to better their little segment of society.
No longer are we a nation united together under one
God with a common bond.
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No, we are now divided by our skin color, by our sex,
by our sexual identity, whether we are rich or poor.
And each little tribe, stands with their own, even when
foolishness is exposed within their tribe.
When selfishness motivates a nation, the nation has
fallen.
Don’t believe the lie, in Christ, we do not see others by
their skin color, male is not greater than female,
female is not superior to man, either are we not
separated by economic status, immigrant or
nonimmigrant.
In Christ, we are equal, and family.
Resist this pull to join these little tribes within our
society.
We are strongest when we stand together, when all
tribes get together under one God.
It really seems obvious, that our great country has
been weakened by these tribal factions being created.
Our enemy knows when we are divided we are weak.
See through the delusion to divide, may the church be
an example to what unity can look like, as we stand
together under Christ.
Now, next we will see the nation will inquire of God,
again not to take the land promised to them, but to
see about attacking their own.
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18 Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the
house of God to inquire of God. They said, "Which of
us shall go up first to battle against the children of
Benjamin?"
The Lord said, "Judah first!"
19 So the children of Israel rose in the morning and
encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel
went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of
Israel put themselves in battle array to fight against
them at Gibeah. 21 Then the children of Benjamin
came out of Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the
ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites. 22
And the people, that is, the men of Israel, encouraged
themselves and again formed the battle line at the
place where they had put themselves in array on the
first day. 23 Then the children of Israel went up and
wept before the Lord until evening, and asked counsel
of the Lord, saying, "Shall I again draw near for battle
against the children of my brother Benjamin?"
And the Lord said, "Go up against him."
24 So the children of Israel approached the children of
Benjamin on the second day. 25 And Benjamin went
out against them from Gibeah on the second day, and
cut down to the ground eighteen thousand more of
the children of Israel; all these drew the sword.
26 Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people,
went up and came to the house of God and wept. They
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sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until
evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace
offerings before the Lord. 27 So the children of Israel
inquired of the Lord (the ark of the covenant of God
was there in those days, 28 and 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 my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?"
And the Lord said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver
them into your hand."
Twice Israel was defeated by the outnumbered
Benjamites.
Tens of thousands were killed, and the situation was
very grim.
Understand both sides are being judged here.
And with each loss the children of Israel show more
humility in their approach to God.
Understand our defeats in this life are often times that
get us to a place of humility, a place where we are
totally seeking God’s Will.
God allows storms to break us.
The 11 tribes ultimately fast and along with tears they
pray to God, and the third time they are now given
exact instructions on how to gain the victory.
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Do not let defeat keep you from pressing deeper into
God, it might be the very thing He is wanting, so you
can receive clearly from Him.
Too many run and give up in the season of defeat, we
see here, even defeat is within the will of God.
Next, we read…
29 Then Israel set men in ambush all around Gibeah.
30 And the children of Israel went up against the
children of Benjamin on the third day, and put
themselves in battle array against Gibeah as at the
other times. 31 So the children of Benjamin went out
against the people, and were drawn away from the
city. They began to strike down and kill some of the
people, as at the other times, in the highways (one of
which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah) and
in the field, about thirty men of Israel. 32 And the
children of Benjamin said, "They are defeated before
us, as at first."
But the children of Israel said, "Let us flee and draw
them away from the city to the highways." 33 So all
the men of Israel rose from their place and put
themselves in battle array at Baal Tamar. Then Israel's
men in ambush burst forth from their position in the
plain of Geba. 34 And ten thousand select men from all
Israel came against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce.
But the Benjamites did not know that disaster was
upon them. 35 The Lord defeated Benjamin before
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Israel. And the children of Israel destroyed that day
twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites; all
these drew the sword.
36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were
defeated. The men of Israel had given ground to the
Benjamites, because they relied on the men in ambush
whom they had set against Gibeah. 37 And the men in
ambush quickly rushed upon Gibeah; the men in
ambush spread out and struck the whole city with the
edge of the sword. 38 Now the appointed signal
between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was
that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise up
from the city, 39 whereupon the men of Israel would
turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and
kill about thirty of the men of Israel. For they said,
"Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first
battle." 40 But when the cloud began to rise from the
city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked
behind them, and there was the whole city going up in
smoke to heaven. 41 And when the men of Israel
turned back, the men of Benjamin panicked, for they
saw that disaster had come upon them. 42 Therefore
they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the
direction of the wilderness; but the battle overtook
them, and whoever came out of the cities they
destroyed in their midst. 43 They surrounded the
Benjamites, chased them, and easily trampled them
down as far as the front of Gibeah toward the east. 44
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And eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these
were men of valor. 45 Then they turned and fled
toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon; and
they cut down five thousand of them on the highways.
Then they pursued them relentlessly up to Gidom, and
killed two thousand of them. 46 So all who fell of
Benjamin that day were twenty-five thousand men
who drew the sword; all these were men of valor.
47 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the
wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they stayed at
the rock of Rimmon for four months. 48 And the men
of Israel turned back against the children of Benjamin,
and struck them down with the edge of the sword —
from every city, men and beasts, all who were found.
They also set fire to all the cities they came to.
The strategy used here on the third day was very
similar to the strategy given to Joshua in the Battle of
Ai.
The account is repetitive, because we first get the
Benjamite’s viewpoint, then the 11 tribes viewpoint.
But we see overall it was the self-confidence of the
Benjamites, they had the high ground, and two days’
worth of victories…
They were too confident and they were drawn out and
caught in an ambush.
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Over 25,000 Benjamites were killed as they fled, and all
that was left was 600 cowards hiding in the rock
fortress in Rimmon.
This was a huge price the tribe of Benjamin paid here
for not obeying the Law of the Lord.
We see almost a whole tribe is decimated in Israel.
And that becomes a huge problem next…
Let’s look now at the third part of this story…
Wives Provided for the Benjamites
21:1 Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at
Mizpah, saying, "None of us shall give his daughter to
Benjamin as a wife." 2 Then the people came to the
house of God, and remained there before God till
evening. They lifted up their voices and wept bitterly, 3
and said, "O Lord God of Israel, why has this come to
pass in Israel, that today there should be one tribe
missing in Israel?"
4 So it was, on the next morning, that the people rose
early and built an altar there, and offered burnt
offerings and peace offerings. 5 The children of Israel
said, "Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who
did not come up with the assembly to the Lord?" For
they had made a great oath concerning anyone who
had not come up to the Lord at Mizpah, saying, "He
shall surely be put to death." 6 And the children of
Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said,
"One tribe is cut off from Israel today. 7 What shall we
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do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have
sworn by the Lord that we will not give them our
daughters as wives?"
We see Israel makes a foolish vow, and we see
similarities here to that of the Vow of Jephthah we
looked at a few weeks ago.
These people speak hastily not thinking of the full
ramifications that lay ahead.
They claim that they will not give one of their
daughters to the tribe of Benjamin.
And after their foolish vow, they go to God and kind of
blame Him.
Of course they cannot simply own up to their foolish
vow, and they cry out to God because now a tribe is
almost lost in Israel.
It is typical for sinful humans to blame God for their
current failures.
When selfish individuals do not get things their own
way, they blame God naturally.
They fail an exam, and they blame God for not
answering their panicked pleas before the test was
handed out.
“Well there must not be a God, because I failed!”
No, you should have studied the night before instead
of playing video games.
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Don’t blame God…
So, Israel made a foolish vow not give their daughters
to the remaining Benjamites, so they must scheme to
save Jacob’s Youngest son’s inheritance among Israel.
Again, the simple way would be to repent, and do what
is right, but sometimes it is easier to push an elephant
over than to get sinful man to admit they are wrong.
So, of course, naturally, it is easier to murder a bunch
more innocent people to cover up their foolish vow.
This is what happens when people get caught up on
little legalities and fail to see the greater good.
They plan now…
8 And they said, "What one is there from the tribes of
Israel who did not come up to Mizpah to the Lord?"
And, in fact, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh
Gilead to the assembly. 9 For when the people were
counted, indeed, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh
Gilead was there. 10 So the congregation sent out
there twelve thousand of their most valiant men, and
commanded them, saying, "Go and strike the
inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the
sword, including the women and children. 11 And this
is the thing that you shall do: You shall utterly destroy
every male, and every woman who has known a man
intimately." 12 So they found among the inhabitants of
Jabesh Gilead four hundred young virgins who had not
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known a man intimately; and they brought them to the
camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
13 Then the whole congregation sent word to the
children of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon,
and announced peace to them. 14 So Benjamin came
back at that time, and they gave them the women
whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh
Gilead; and yet they had not found enough for them.
15 And the people grieved for Benjamin, because the
Lord had made a void in the tribes of Israel.
So they grieve and again blame God for their own in
fighting.
However, their perverted logic here still comes up
short 200 wives, and the murder of innocent lives is
not enough, so now, they will resort to kidnapping.
16 Then the elders of the congregation said, "What
shall we do for wives for those who remain, since the
women of Benjamin have been destroyed?" 17 And
they said, "There must be an inheritance for the
survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe may not be
destroyed from Israel. 18 However, we cannot give
them wives from our daughters, for the children of
Israel have sworn an oath, saying, 'Cursed be the one
who gives a wife to Benjamin.'" 19 Then they said, "In
fact, there is a yearly feast of the Lord in Shiloh, which
is north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that
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goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of
Lebonah."
Understand something here, this was not a
commanded feast to the Lord at Shiloh, this was more
likely a Canaanitish feast once again attributed Israel’s
God.
Syncretism is taking place.
20 Therefore they instructed the children of Benjamin,
saying, "Go, lie in wait in the vineyards, 21 and watch;
and just when the daughters of Shiloh come out to
perform their dances, then come out from the
vineyards, and every man catch a wife for himself from
the daughters of Shiloh; then go to the land of
Benjamin. 22 Then it shall be, when their fathers or
their brothers come to us to complain, that we will say
to them, 'Be kind to them for our sakes, because we
did not take a wife for any of them in the war; for it is
not as though you have given the women to them at
this time, making yourselves guilty of your oath.'"
23 And the children of Benjamin did so; they took
enough wives for their number from those who
danced, whom they caught. Then they went and
returned to their inheritance, and they rebuilt the
cities and dwelt in them. 24 So the children of Israel
departed from there at that time, every man to his
tribe and family; they went out from there, every man
to his inheritance.
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So the kidnapping ensues, and everyone is pleased,
and all go home.
The Benjamites go and rebuild their inheritance and all
is well.
And life goes on, and here we are left with so many
questions, and confusion abounds.
What about these poor women ripped from their
families, how is this justified before a God who calls
these deeds illegal and makes them punishable by
death.
Deut. 24:7 "If a man is found kidnapping any of his
brethren of the children of Israel, and mistreats him or
sells him, then that kidnapper shall die; and you shall
put away the evil from among you.
How did they reconcile their conscious before a Holy
God?
None of those things are answered for us.
I think the writer left this as confusing as it really was.
The writer is trying to illustrate the deep sickness of a
society that has abandoned God, and pursued self.
A society where anything goes is a society doomed to
fail.
We see this whole book is summed up by the last
verse…
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25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone
did what was right in his own eyes.
This is what anarchy produces, when man is left to
himself, a society with confusion and atrocities
abound.
But we have to be honest with ourselves tonight,
Gibeah is G rated when held up to our Western World.
We are entertained by immorality and pleasure.
Would you go to your neighbors house and watch
them make love to each other through the window?
“Why, that is perverted and sick.”
Yet, we peep through our TVs to watch people make
love to each other, and somehow that is perfectly
acceptable.
We live in confusing times.
We pay big money to see violence and brutality in
sports and movies, on our video games.
Yet, when a young man acts on the images that he is
bombarded with, and a school shooting takes place,
we are appalled and shocked.
And it is confusing, that one is okay and the other is
not.
The news Media has become similar to a Jerry Springer
show, no longer are they giving useful information.
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They are now bringing us the latest drama story, and
facts are optional.
Truth is whatever you want it to be, if you believe you
are dog, they pat you on the back, and say, “Isn’t it
wonderful it is finding itself and expressing itself
truthfully.”
“Be true to yourself,” is the motto and it is even lived
out to the expense of others.
Can you even believe that we are seeing our
government, with straight faces, and with no sign of
remorse whatsoever saying that it is okay to kill a baby
all the way up to birth, and even after birth?
And those men saying those things are championed
and celebrated as heroes among women.
We are seeing people in one breath demand women
have more equality, and in the next breath demand
that we do away with gender altogether.
It makes absolutely no sense, as everyone is doing
what is right in their own eyes.
Our society is becoming more and more godless
everyday, and with it, it is becoming more and more
confusing, and even hostile.
The Church, the Called out ones, we have entered into
a Lukewarm coma, and the ones who are called to be
salt and light, have been bullied into a corner, with a
cone of shame on their head.
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We have become a joke and comedians go to, to get a
response from the crowd.
The church has lost its backbone, in its quest not to
offend.
And a nation where everyone does what is right in
their own eyes will eventually crumble.
The only hope our society has, is for the church to
awake from its slumber, to walk as children of the day.
To throw off selfishness, and to seek God with a whole
heart.
Revival starts here, in us, 1 Peter 4:17-19
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the
house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be
the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will
of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a
faithful Creator.
Revival starts in our homes and in us personally.
We see our world is crumbling, but there is always
hope when our God is on the throne.
Church, we are called to such a time as this, it begins
with us.
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Jessica my wife, told me women’s Bible study was
amazing last night.
Ashley our secretary said it was the best time of
cooperate prayer she has ever been a part of.
And this is where it begins, with prayer, with God’s
people seeking His will and His face again.
Every Revival in church history has begun in a prayer
meeting, and this is where it will begin again.
Church, when was the last time you prayed with your
family?
When was the last time you and your wife got together
and prayed?
Stop worrying about prayer not being in our schools
any longer, that woe is long past, let’s bring prayer
back to our homes, before we lose what ground we
have left.
Maybe turn the TV off earlier, or altogether, put your
phone down.
Jess, like her brain was washed clean.
We like to numb ourselves to reality by these things.
We are in dire time’s church, and we like the Era of
Judges are in a time when everyone does what is right
in their own eyes.
It is time to pray, it’s time to put God’s Word at the
center of our lives again, and as we listen, when He
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speaks, it is vital we obey Him and get busy about His
business.
Amen?
Let us pray…