Judges 19 -- So Much Like Sodom Repeated

This chapter was incredibly hard to stomach.  A Levite, who was charged with teaching Israelites about God, had a concubine -- a second-class wife -- who had run away after being unfaithful to him.  He finally traveled to her father's home to be reconciled and ended up overstaying, spending several nights drinking with her father.  He finally set out with his concubine and his servant late in the day, rather than staying another night, but wouldn't stop in Jebus (Jerusalem) because at that time it was not an Israelite city.  Despite the hour, he pressed on to Gibeah.

Upon arriving, he waited in the town square to be offered hospitality and lodging for the night, but the people ignored him.  Finally an old man came in late from the fields and took them in, but by that time a gang of thugs had spotted the Levite and intended to rape him!  The old man admonished the gang and even offered his daughter if they would leave his guest alone!  That's absolutely unimaginable for us!

The Levite finally pushed his concubine out the door and into the arms of the gang, and then closed the door and went to sleep!  She was raped all night, and he opened the door the next morning to continue on his trip without her, only to find her by the door.  His only response was, "Get up.  Let's go."  But she didn't respond.  He placed her body on a donkey and headed home, where he then cut her body into twelve parts and sent the parts to the 12 tribes of Israel to stir them to act.  

"He wanted to mobilize the support of the tribes and punish the men of Gibeah who had killed his wife, but in fact, he was the one who had let them kill her!" my commentary said.  "Had the Levite gone to Shiloh where the tabernacle stood, and had he consulted with the high priest, he could have dealt with the matter according to the law of God and avoided causing a great deal of trouble," it added.  And the story continues in the next chapter ...

Father, please keep my heart and mind close to You so that I will never turn callous like this man did.  Please touch hearts and lives in our nation and lead all people back to You!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford