Judges 19:22

¶ [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 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.

Now as they were making their hearts {H3820} merry {H3190}, behold, the men {H582} of the city {H5892}, certain {H582} sons {H1121} of Belial {H1100}, beset {H5437} the house {H1004} round about {H5437}, and beat {H1849} at the door {H1817}, and spake {H559} to the master {H1167} of the house {H1004}, the old {H2205} man {H376}, saying {H559}, Bring forth {H3318} the man {H376} that came {H935} into thine house {H1004}, that we may know {H3045} him.

They were relaxing, when suddenly some men from the city, good-for-nothings, surrounded the house and began beating at the door. "Send out the man who came home with you!" they demanded of the old man whose house it was. "We want to have sex with him!"

While they were enjoying themselves, suddenly the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they said to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house, so we can have relations with him!”

As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows, beset the house round about, beating at the door; and they spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may know him.

Commentary

Judges 19:22 marks a horrifying turning point in one of the most disturbing narratives in the book of Judges. This verse details the immediate threat faced by a Levite and his concubine, who have sought lodging in Gibeah, a city of the tribe of Benjamin, during a period of profound moral decline in Israel.

Context

The book of Judges frequently recounts cycles of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance. However, chapters 19-21 describe an era of extreme depravity, famously summarized by Judges 21:25: "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." The Levite, traveling with his concubine and servant, finds refuge in the house of an old man, who offers the hospitality that the Levite's own kinsmen in Gibeah had denied him. This verse shatters that fragile peace, revealing the depths of wickedness present in the city.

Key Themes

  • Profound Depravity and Lawlessness: The central theme is the utter moral corruption of the men of Gibeah. Their demand to "know" the guest is a euphemism for sexual assault, echoing the sinful actions of the men of Sodom in Genesis 19:5. This incident highlights a society where basic moral standards and divine law have completely collapsed.
  • Violation of Sacred Hospitality: In ancient Near Eastern culture, hospitality was a sacred duty, offering protection and provision to travelers. The mob's assault on the household and their demand to violate a guest represent an egregious breach of this fundamental societal and religious norm.
  • The "Sons of Belial": This descriptive term, used to characterize the men of the city, signifies individuals of extreme wickedness, worthlessness, and rebellion against God and moral authority. It underscores their utter lack of conscience and their alignment with evil.
  • Absence of Moral Authority: The events in Gibeah underscore the desperate need for righteous leadership and a central authority to uphold justice and order, a vacuum that the narrator repeatedly laments.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "sons of Belial" (Hebrew: b'nei beliya'al) is crucial. "Belial" itself is not a proper name but a Hebrew term meaning "worthlessness," "wickedness," or "destruction." Thus, "sons of Belial" literally means "sons of worthlessness" or "sons of wickedness." It describes individuals who are utterly depraved, lawless, and rebellious against God and all moral standards. This term is used elsewhere in the Old Testament to denote the most corrupt and rebellious individuals, such as the wicked sons of Eli in 1 Samuel 2:12 or those who incite rebellion against the Lord (Deuteronomy 13:13). It clearly labels the men of Gibeah as irredeemably evil.

Practical Application

Judges 19:22 serves as a stark warning about the consequences of societal and individual moral decay when divine standards are abandoned. For us today, it highlights:

  • The Dangers of Moral Relativism: When "every man does what is right in his own eyes," without a transcendent moral compass, chaos and cruelty inevitably ensue.
  • The Importance of Righteous Leadership: The vacuum of godly leadership in Israel contributed directly to such atrocities. This reminds us of the need for spiritual and moral guidance in communities and nations.
  • The Call to Stand for Righteousness: In a world that can often reflect similar depravities, believers are called to be lights, upholding God's truth and standards, and actively working against injustice and wickedness.
  • The Value of True Hospitality: While the old man's efforts ultimately failed in this tragic story, the principle of offering genuine, protective hospitality remains a biblical virtue, contrasting sharply with the mob's actions.
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Cross-References

  • Genesis 19:4 (7 votes)

    ¶ But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

  • Genesis 19:5 (7 votes)

    And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where [are] the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

  • Judges 20:5 (5 votes)

    And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, [and] thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9 (5 votes)

    ¶ Know 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,

  • Deuteronomy 13:13 (4 votes)

    [Certain] men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;

  • Romans 1:26 (4 votes)

    For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

  • Romans 1:27 (4 votes)

    And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.