Judges 15:13 - I Samuel 2:29
In this section of reading there are a lot of familiar people. Samson and Delilah; Ruth and Naomi; Hannah; Eli and his sons; and Samuel. They all have a lessons we have heard since we were children in Sunday school.
There is also an event that takes place in this reading that we do not hear about. I do not even understand why it is including in our bibles.
It is about a Levite who takes a concubine from Bethlehem-Judah.
"And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah." Judges 19:1
The Levite had to chase her down all the way back to her father's house.
"And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months." Judges 19:2
The Levite spoke nice to her so she would come back to him.
"And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him." Judges 19:3
Why did he go after her? Why did he act like he wanted her? So then they travel to Gibeah where and old man takes them in instead of leaving them out on the street all night.
"So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink." Judges 19:21
The Benjamites show up at the door and they want the stranger. The old man offers his own daughter and the Levite's concubine instead.
"Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing." Judges 19:24
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
Mind you, this is not the first time that women have been offered up in the place of a man. Lot offered his own virgin daughters to the men in the city so they would not take the angels that were trying to get him to leave the city before it was destroyed(Genesis 19:5-8).
The Levite gives his concubine to the men of the city.
"But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light." Judges 19:25,26
After all that, this is really the verse that really gets me so angry. The Levite goes out to leave in the morning and sees his concubine laying at the front door.
"And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place." Judges 19:28
He does not even notice she is dead. Then he lies about his part in it.
"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." Judges 20:5
Oh buddy, they did not want to kill you...and you gave them your concubine!
Yes, this passage has me hot! Why did God include this event in his word? I have no idea. But I still trust God and his Bible.
If you have anything you would like to add, please feel free to leave a comment. This is not your children's Sunday school lesson today.
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