Bible in 365 Days

Judges 19-21

Judges 19

The story of the Levite occupies three chapters and is again a mirror held up to the times, revealing startling moral conditions and showing the conflict of good and evil among them.

In considering the story of this chapter, several things are to be carefully noted. First, we must recognize the imperfection of the times as revealed in the practice of polygamy and concubinage among the chosen people. There is no doubt that their action in these matters was in advance of that of the people of the land.

Nevertheless, the fact that a Levite had a concubine in these days was terrible, but we must consider it in the light of the times. When this is done, we notice that the sacredness in which he thought of her relation to him does stand in striking contrast to the loose ideals of the Canaanitish people. Nevertheless, the story does reveal a terrible condition of degeneracy among a section of the chosen people. The action of the men of Gibeah was nothing less than the action of the men of Sodom long before. The drastic and terrible method adopted by the Levite was intended to draw the attention of Israel to the sin of the men and reveals the conscience of the better part of the people concerning purity.

Judges 20

The action of the Levite served its purpose. The nation was stirred momentarily to its center. A great moral passion flamed out. Underneath all the degeneracy was a true stratum of religious conviction, which in the presence of the iniquity of the men of Gibeah sprang to life and action.

It is very remarkable how in the case of nations backsliding from religious ideals this is ever true. In the midst of most sordid and debased times, in the presence of some more than usually violent manifestation of evil, the slumbering convictions of the past will flame into new sensitiveness and demand recognition.

In response to the ghastly and bloody appeal of the Levite we see the tribes of Israel gathered together before God seeking to know how to act.

The low level of morality which had manifested itself in so powerful a form could be dealt with by general suffering. The men who were in the wrong were brutally defiant and refused to hand over the sinners. Moreover, they were strong enough at the first to defeat the army of Israel, and once again its hosts are seen in lamentation, waiting before God.

After this, they again went forward, this time to victory and the sore punishment of the sinning people and of those who had condoned their sin.

Judges 21

Uninstructed zeal, even in the cause of righteousness, often goes beyond its proper limits. The terrible carnage continued until not above six hundred men of the tribe of Benjamin were left. Another of those sudden revulsions which characterize the action of inflamed peoples is seen as Israel was suddenly filled with pity for the tribe so nearly exterminated. This pity, then, operated in ways that were wholly unrighteous. Wives were provided for the men of Benjamin by unjustified slaughter at Jabesh-gilead and by the vilest iniquity at Shiloh.

It is impossible to read this appendix to the Book of Judges, and especially the closing part of it, without being impressed with how sad is the condition of any people who act without some definitely fixed principle. Passion moves to purpose only as it is governed by principle. If it lacks that, it will march at one moment in heroic determination to establish high ideals and purity of life, and then almost immediately will burn and express itself in brutality and all manner of evil.

The writer of this book more than once drew attention to the fact that at that time there was no king in Israel. Undoubtedly he meant by this to trace the lawlessness to the lack of government. The truth was that Israel had lost its immediate relation to its one and only King.