*Disclaimer this was written late at night as a response to a livestream question earlier in the night. I apologize for any disorganization and/or grammatical errors, but I still feel it answers the question sufficiently so I am letting it go as is.
Judges 19 Question
Why did the certain Levite end up cutting up his concubine into 12 pieces and sending them to the territories of Israel?
So here is some insight on the Judges 19 question. The question was why did the certain Levite end up cutting up his concubine into 12 pieces and sending them to the territories of Israel? Many people chimed in, but I did not want to answer LIVE because I wanted to make sure I had the whole story. And there is much we can draw from the story. This is why I like to take some time to read through and consider, something I didn’t want to take the time to do on livestream. First of all consider this: In Judges chapter 19:2 this concubine of the Levite played the harlot against him and left him to go to her father’s house. If she had not done that, this event would never have happened! That is something for all of us to consider. Works of the flesh often lead to unsafe situations. It has been a while since I read this account and was surprised to re-read that the events leading up to her death are almost the exact same as the events in Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
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 morning; and when the day began to break, they let her go. Judges 19:22-25 NKJV
This is a horrible thing. In verse 26 the Bible reveals that because of this rape, she died. Questions are asked like, “Why did the Levitie let this happen?” or “Why would the man be willing to sacrifice the Levite’s concubine and even his own daughter like Lot was willing to?” Many scholars will convey that there were cultural norms as to why this was allowed, but none of that brings a sense of justice to the situation. Besides, I don’t think the Levite would have done what I am about to talk about if he had been aware of what was going on, because his actions were not a message of national repentance, but a demand for national justice.
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. 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!” Judges 19:26-30 NKJV
There is no way to know for sure but bear with me as I attempt to fill in some blanks. Why did he divide her into 12 pieces? Why could he not just send out a decree or something to that effect letting the other tribes know what happened so they could avenge Gibeah?
Well, think about it, he had no physical proof to persuade them. By dividing her into 12 pieces, he could not only send the message but give physical proof of a life taken unjustly. It wasn’t that the Levite was sadistic or psychopathic, he had to prove she had been killed, thus he divided her into 12 pieces. This is the same logic a king would use in wanting the head of an enemy. It simply proved his enemy had been defeated, without him having to just take someone’s word. So I know this sounds weird, but the Levite dividing her into 12 pieces and sending her body out, the Levite was beginning the process of justice for her life.
With the body part was the message to each territory: Consider, confer, and speak up.
What this more literally means is this: Look at what happened, make a plan to do something about it, then do it!
Chapter 20
That is what follows in chapter 20. I will not go through the whole chapter, but basically, the tribes of Israel concluded those who committed this vile and lewd act in Israel, who were of the tribe of Benjamin, must be done away with. That would be in accordance with the law of Moses. The tribes of Israel also formed an army to deal with the issue. But they didn’t intend to fight all the tribe of Benjamin, they just wanted to go into Gibeah and pull out the men that committed the wickedness. However, the tribe of Benjamin quartered these individuals and rather defended them to the point they would go to battle against the other tribes of Israel. (We should fear God more than our brothers, but I digress) It was a back and forth battle but eventually Israel prevailed and the tribe of Benjamin paid for defending evil.
This recorded event shows just how far sin and idolatry can take humans.
Yes, God allowed this event, just like numerous other events, but in the end, this story once again is a testimony that sin and unjust actions will always lead to defeat. Although there was a victimized life, justice was done. But then strangely into chapter 21, Israel mourns for Benjamin because there was so much loss and separation, Israel is now void of a tribe.
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?” Judges 21:2-3 NKJV
You see in verse 48 of chapter 20 it says…
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. Judges 20:48 NKJV
The wives and daughters of Benjamin were destroyed too, and Israel had made a vow that no man should give his daughter to a Benjaminite. This meant that the line of Benjamin would not be able to continue and for this Israel was mourning. So what they decided to do in order to preserve Benjamin is, well, paradoxical and insane if you ask me.
When Israel gathered together to decide what to do about the death of the concubine they had also made an oath saying that anyone who had not sent representatives to confer about what to do concerning the death of the Levite’s concubine should be put to death.
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.” Judges 21:5 NKJV
Now, the only region that did not send a representative was Jabesh Gilead. So Israel, making good on their oath, went down and killed all the men, children, and women who had known a man. Only the virgins were spared and then given to Benjamin as a symbol of peace (yuck). But there were not enough still and the tribes of Israel could not break their oath to give Benjamin daughters for wives. So their solution… again, is pretty insane. They instructed the Benjaminites (the same tribe that was trying to kill them and did kill many of them in the battle over justice for the Levite’s concubine) that there is a feast of the LORD (yes an appointed time) in Shiloh in where their daughters come out into the vineyards to dance. Israel’s advice to Benjamin was to lie in wait and kidnap these women and take them for wives.
Enough with the crazy! What is my point in ALL of this? It is Judges 21:25, the last verse in the book.
25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25 NKJV
And there you have it!
God did not lead any of them to do any of these deeds, he only told Israel He would deliver Benjamin into their hand which He did. Everything else that is unjust and difficult to stomach was the result of man doing what was right in his own eyes, not what was right in God’s eyes. And herein lies the foundation of sin and our need for a LORD and His kingdom to come.
Everything else that is unjust and difficult to stomach was the result of man doing what was right in his own eyes, not what was right in God’s eyes.
I hope this helps bring you some clarity to this Scripture. If you have any further questions regarding this Scripture or other Scriptures in the Bible please feel free to reach out to me on email info@ammudim.org.
Blessings,
