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Commentary on Judges 19 verses 22–30
Here is, I. The great wickedness of the men of Gibeah. One could not imagine that ever it should enter into the heart of men that had the use of human reason, of Israelites that had the benefit of divine revelation, to be so very wicked. "Lord, what is man!" said David, "what a mean creature is he!" "Lord, what is man," may we say upon the reading of this story, "what a vile creature is he, when he is given up to his own heart's lusts!" The sinners are here called sons of Belial, that is, ungovernable men, men that would endure no yoke, children of the devil (for he is Belial), resembling him, and joining with him in rebellion against God and his government. Sons of Benjamin, of whom Moses had said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him (Deu 33:12), have become such sons of Belial that an honest man cannot lodge in safety among them. The sufferers were a Levite and his wife, and that kind man that gave them entertainment. We are strangers upon earth, and must expect strange usage. It is said they were making their hearts merry when this trouble came upon them, Jdg 19:22. If the mirth was innocent, it teaches us of what uncertain continuance all our creature comforts and enjoyments are; when we are ever so well pleased with our friends, we know not how near our enemies are; nor, if it be well with us this hour, can we be sure it will be so the next. If the mirth was sinful and excessive, let it be a warning to us to keep a strict guard upon ourselves, that we grow not intemperate in the use of lawful things, nor be transported into indecencies by our cheerfulness; for the end of that mirth is heaviness. God can soon change the note of those that are making their hearts merry, and turn their laughter into mourning and their joy into heaviness. Let us see what the wickedness of these Benjamites was.
1.They made a rude and insolent assault, in the night, upon the habitation of an honest man, that not only lived peaceably among them, but kept a good house and was a blessing and ornament to their city. They beset the house round, and, to the great terror of those within, beat as hard as they could at the door, Jdg 19:22. A man's house is his castle, in which he ought to be both safe and quiet, and, where there is law, it is taken under the special protection of it; but there was no king in Israel to keep the peace and secure honest men from the sons of violence.
2.They had a particular spite at the strangers that were within their gates, that only desired a night's lodging among them, contrary to the laws of hospitality, which all civilized nations have accounted sacred, and which the master of the house pleaded with them (Jdg 19:23): Seeing that this man has come into my house. Those are base and abject spirits indeed that will trample upon the helpless, and use a man the worse for his being a stranger, whom they know no ill of.
3.They designed in the most filthy and abominable manner (not to be thought of without horror and detestation) to abuse the Levite, whom perhaps they had observed to be young and comely: Bring him forth that we may know him. We should certainly have concluded they meant only to enquire whence he came, and to know his character, but that the good man of the house, who understood their meaning too well, by his answer lets us know that they designed the gratification of that most unnatural and worse than brutish lust which was expressly forbidden by the law of Moses, and called an abomination, Lev 18:22. Those that are guilty of it are ranked in the New Testament among the worst and vilest of sinners (Ti1 1:10), and such as shall not inherit the kingdom of God, Co1 6:9. Now, (1.) This was the sin of Sodom, and is thence called Sodomy. The Dead Sea, which was the standing monument of God's vengeance upon Sodom, for its filthiness, was one of the boundaries of Canaan, and lay not many miles off from Gibeah. We may suppose the men of Gibeah had seen it many a time, and yet would not take warning by it, but did worse than Sodom (Eze 16:48), and sinned just after the similitude of their transgression. Who would have expected (says bishop Hall) such extreme abomination to come out of the loins of Jacob? Even the worst pagans were saints to them. What did it avail them that they had the ark of God in Shiloh when they had Sodom in their streets - God's law in their fringes, but the devil in their hearts? Nothing but hell itself can yield a worse creature than a depraved Israelite. (2.) This was the punishment of their idolatry, that sin to which they were, above all others, most addicted. Because they liked not to retain God in their knowledge, therefore he gave them up to these vile affections, by which they dishonoured themselves as they had by their idolatry dishonoured him and turned his glory into shame, Rom 1:24, Rom 1:28. See and admire, in this instance, the patience of God. Why were not these sons of Belial struck blind, as the Sodomites were? Why were not fire and brimstone rained from heaven upon their city? It was because God would leave it to Israel to punish them by the sword, and would reserve his own punishment of them for the future state, in which those that go after strange flesh shall suffer the vengeance of eternal fire, Jde 1:7.
4.They were deaf to the reproofs and reasoning of the good man of the house, who, being well acquainted (we may suppose) with the story of Lot and the Sodomites, set himself to imitate Lot, Jdg 19:23, Jdg 19:24. Compare Gen 19:6-8. He went out to them as Lot did, spoke civilly to them, called them brethren, begged of them to desist, pleaded the protection of his house which his guests were under, and represented to them the great wickedness of their attempt: "Do not so wickedly, so very wickedly." He calls it folly and a vile thing. But in one thing he conformed too far to Lot's example (as we are apt in imitating good men to follow them even in their false steps), in offering them his daughter to do what they would with. He had not power thus to prostitute his daughter, nor ought he to have done this evil that good might come. But this wicked proposal of his may be in part excused from the great surprise and terror he was in, his concern for his guests, and his having too close a regard to what Lot did in the like case, especially not finding that the angels who were by reproved him for it. And perhaps he hoped that his mentioning this as a more natural gratification of their lust would have sent them back to their common harlots. But they would not hearken to him, Jdg 19:25. Headstrong lusts are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; they sear the conscience and make it insensible.
5.They got the Levite's wife among them, and abused her to death, Jdg 19:25. They slighted the old man's offer of his daughter to their lust, either because she was not handsome or because they knew her to be one of great gravity and modesty: but, when the Levite brought them his concubine, they took her with them by force to the place appointed for their filthiness. Josephus, in his narrative of this story, makes her to be the person they had a design upon when they beset the house, and says nothing of their villainous design upon the Levite himself. They saw her (he says) in the street, when they came into the town, and were smitten with her beauty; and perhaps, though she was reconciled to her husband, her looks did not bespeak her to be one of the most modest. Many bring mischief of this kind upon themselves by their loose carriage and behaviour; a little spark may kindle a great fire. One would think the Levite should have followed them, to see what became of his wife, but it is probable he durst not, lest they should do him a mischief. In the miserable end of this woman, we may see the righteous hand of God punishing her for her former uncleanness, when she played the whore against her husband, Jdg 19:2. Though her father had countenanced her, her husband had forgiven her, and the fault was forgotten now that the quarrel was made up, yet God remembered it against her when he suffered these wicked men thus wretchedly to abuse her; how unrighteous soever they were in their treatment of her, in permitting it the Lord was righteous. Her punishment answered her sin, Culpa libido fuit, poena libido fuit - Lust was her sin, and lust was her punishment. By the law of Moses she was to have been put to death for her adultery. She escaped that punishment from men, yet vengeance pursued her; for, if there was no king in Israel, yet there was a God in Israel, a God that judgeth in the earth. We must not think it enough to make our peace with men, whom by our sins we have wronged, but are concerned, by repentance and faith, to make our peace with God, who sees not as men see, nor makes so light of sin as men often do. The justice of God in this matter does not at all extenuate the horrid wickedness of these men of Gibeah, than which nothing could be more barbarous and inhuman.
II. The notice that was sent of this wickedness to all the tribes of Israel. The poor abused woman made towards her husband's lodgings as soon as ever the approach of the day-light obliged these sons of Belial to let her go (for these works of darkness hate and dread the light), Jdg 19:25. Down she fell at the door, with her hands on the threshold, begging pardon (as it were) for her former transgression, and in that posture of a penitent, with her mouth in the dust, she expired. There he found her (Jdg 19:26, Jdg 19:27), supposed her asleep, or overcome with shame and confusion for what had happened, but soon perceived she was dead (Jdg 19:28), took up her dead body, which, we may suppose, had all over it marks of the hands, the blows, and other abuses, she had received. On this sad occasion he waived his purpose of going to Shiloh, and went directly home. He that went out in hopes to return rejoicing came in again melancholy and disconsolate, sat down and considered, "Is this an injury fit to be passed by?" He cannot call for fire from heaven to consume the men of Gibeah, as those angels did who were, after the same manner, insulted by the Sodomites. There was no king in Israel, nor (for aught that appears) any sanhedrim, or great council, to appeal to, and demand justice from. Phinehas is high priest, but he attends closely to the business of the sanctuary, and will be no judge or divider. He has therefore no other way left him than to appeal to the people: let the community be judge. Though they had no general stated assembly of all the tribes, yet it is probable that each tribe had a meeting of their chiefs within itself. To each of the tribes, in their respective meetings, he sent by special messengers a remonstrance of the wrong that was done him, in all its aggravating circumstances, and with it a piece of his wife's dead body (Jdg 19:29), both to confirm the truth of the story and to affect them the more with it. He divided it into twelve pieces, according to the bones, so some read it, that is, by the joints, sending one to each tribe, even to Benjamin among the rest, with the hope that some among them would be moved to join in punishing so great a villany, and the more warmly because committed by some of their own tribe. It did indeed look very barbarous thus to mangle a dead body, which, having been so wretchedly dishonoured, ought to have been decently interred; but the Levite designed hereby, not only to represent their barbarous usage of his wife, whom they had better have cut in pieces thus than have used as they did, but also to express his own passionate concern and thereby to excite the like in them. And it had the desired effect. All that saw the pieces of the dead body, and were told how the matter was, expressed the same sentiments upon it. 1. That the men of Gibeah had been guilty of a very heinous piece of wickedness, the like to which had never been known before in Israel, Jdg 19:30. It was a complicated crime, loaded and blackened with all possible aggravations. They were not such fools as to make a mock at this sin, or turn the story off with a jest. 2. That a general assembly of all Israel should be called, to debate what was fit to be done for the punishment of this wickedness, that a stop might be put to this threatening inundation of debauchery, and the wrath of God might not be poured upon the whole nation for it. It is not a common case, and therefore they stir up one another to come together upon the occasion with this: Consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds. We have here the three great rules by which those that sit in council ought to go in every arduous affair. (1.) Let every man retire into himself, and weigh the matter impartially and fully in his own thoughts, and seriously and calmly consider it, without prejudice on either side, before he speaks upon it. (2.) Let them freely talk it over, and every man take advice of his friend, know his opinion and his reasons, and weigh them. (3.) Then let every man speak his mind, and give his vote according to his conscience. In the multitude of such counsellors there is safety.
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SUMMARY
Judges 19:27 presents a chilling and pivotal moment in one of the Bible's most disturbing narratives: the Levite, rising at dawn, discovers his concubine lying lifeless at the doorway of their lodging, her hands reaching for the threshold. This verse serves as the horrifying culmination of a night of unspeakable violence and depravity in Gibeah, starkly revealing the profound moral decay, societal breakdown, and utter disregard for human life that characterized Israel during the period of the Judges, thereby setting the stage for the devastating civil war that follows.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Judges 19:27 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its chilling and tragic message. Irony is profoundly prominent, as the Levite, who should have been a protector and a spiritual leader, rises casually in the morning, ready to depart, only to be confronted by the horrific consequence of his own cowardly and morally reprehensible act. His expectation of a normal day is brutally shattered by the grotesque reality. Symbolism is deeply embedded in the image of the concubine's body at the threshold. The threshold represents a critical boundary—between inside and outside, safety and danger, life and death. Her collapse at this precise point symbolizes the complete breakdown of hospitality, justice, and humanity in Gibeah, and indeed, throughout Israel. The scene also evokes profound pathos, drawing the reader's pity and sorrow for the concubine, whose suffering and death are presented with stark, unadorned language, emphasizing her extreme vulnerability and the injustice she endured. Furthermore, the verse serves as significant foreshadowing, immediately preceding the detailed account of the civil war in Judges 20-21, making the concubine's death the grim and pivotal catalyst for national upheaval and judgment.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 19:27 is a stark biblical witness to the depths of human depravity when God's moral law is abandoned and "everyone does what is right in his own eyes." This horrifying incident is not merely a historical account but a profound theological statement about the catastrophic consequences of spiritual apostasy and moral relativism. It underscores the sanctity of human life, particularly the vulnerable, and exposes the destructive power of sin that leads to unimaginable cruelty and societal breakdown. The passage challenges us to consider the responsibility of individuals and communities to uphold justice, protect the innocent, and actively resist the pervasive influence of wickedness. It reveals that the absence of righteous leadership and adherence to divine standards inevitably leads to chaos and suffering, echoing the broader biblical narrative of humanity's desperate need for God's redemptive intervention and the establishment of true justice.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 19:27, though a profoundly disturbing passage, offers critical and enduring lessons for believers today. It serves as a powerful warning against the dangers of moral relativism and the societal decay that inevitably ensues when God's absolute standards are abandoned. The story compels us to confront the stark reality of human depravity and the pervasive nature of sin, reminding us that unchecked wickedness leads to unimaginable cruelty and profound injustice. For contemporary believers, this passage is a poignant call to action: to actively champion the cause of the vulnerable, to courageously speak out against all forms of abuse and oppression, and to work tirelessly for justice in our communities and beyond. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and the societies in which we live, ensuring that we do not, through inaction, self-preservation, or moral compromise, become complicit in the suffering of others. Ultimately, it underscores the urgent need for a moral compass rooted in divine truth, guiding us to live lives that reflect God's justice, compassion, and unwavering protection for all people, especially those who are most marginalized.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Was the Levite truly a "lord" to his concubine, given his actions?
Answer: While the KJV translates the Hebrew word ʼâdôwn (H113) as "lord," signifying his position as her master or husband, the Levite's actions in Judges 19 demonstrate a profound and tragic failure to fulfill the protective responsibilities inherent in that role. Culturally, a "lord" or husband was expected to provide safety, care, and provision for his household, including his concubine. The Levite's decision to offer her to the mob, and his subsequent casual rising in the morning without immediate concern for her, reveal a shocking dereliction of duty and a self-preservation instinct that utterly negated his "lordship" in any morally meaningful sense. The use of "lord" in the text, therefore, highlights the tragic irony and his profound moral culpability, emphasizing the vast chasm between his title and his abhorrent conduct.
Why is this story included in the Bible?
Answer: The story of the Levite and his concubine, culminating in the horrific discovery in Judges 19:27, is included in the biblical canon for several crucial and sobering reasons. Firstly, it serves as a stark and unvarnished illustration of the moral and spiritual nadir to which Israel had descended during the period of the Judges. It graphically demonstrates the catastrophic consequences of a society where "there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). Secondly, it functions as a powerful theological indictment of human depravity and the destructive nature of sin when unchecked by divine law or righteous leadership. Thirdly, it acts as the immediate and horrifying catalyst for the civil war against the tribe of Benjamin in Judges 20-21, explaining the extreme measures taken by the other tribes to purge such wickedness from Israel. Finally, it underscores the desperate need for a righteous king—a need that ultimately points beyond fallible human kings to the coming of the Messiah, who would establish true justice, order, and compassionate rule.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The horrific events of Judges 19, culminating in the discovery of the concubine's body in verse 27, vividly illustrate the profound brokenness, moral anarchy, and desperate need for a righteous king in a world steeped in sin. The Levite's abject failure to protect his concubine, and the Benjaminites' unspeakable cruelty, stand in stark and glorious contrast to the character and mission of Jesus Christ. Unlike the self-serving and cowardly "lord" of Judges 19, Jesus is the true and faithful King, the ultimate protector and deliverer. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep (John 10:11), not one who abandons the vulnerable to their tormentors. His sacrificial death on the cross is the absolute antithesis of the Levite's self-preservation, demonstrating boundless love and self-giving for His bride, the Church (Ephesians 5:25). Where Judges reveals humanity's capacity for unimaginable evil and the desperate need for divine order, Christ brings true justice, peace, and redemption through His perfect reign (Isaiah 9:6-7). He is the one who will ultimately wipe away every tear and establish a kingdom where such atrocities will never again occur (Revelation 21:4), fulfilling the deepest longing for a righteous ruler that the book of Judges so tragically highlights.