Judges 18-20 Depravity

Thoughts

Judges 18

The tribe of Dan is still seeking an inheritance to live in so they send five men to spy out land.

The men come to Micah’s house, recognize the Levite, and ask for God’s guidance. The Levite “assures” them their journey will be prosperous.

Sin + Sin = God’s blessing? no

The spies find the people of Laish living securely and isolated and recommend attacking the city.

Six hundred armed men from Dan set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. They camp near Kiriath-jearim and later in the hill country of Ephraim.

The spies remind the others of Micah’s house, idols, ephod, and Levite, so they go and get the idols and persuade the Levite to come with them. The Levite joins, becoming their priest.

Micah and his men run after  the Danites, but Micah realizes that they are too great to fight. 

The Danites attack Laish (nice quiet town) kill its people, and burn the city. They rebuild and rename it Dan.

The Danites set up Micah’s idol. Jonathan, a descendant of Moses (or Manasseh, depending on translation), becomes their priest. This idolatry continues as long as the house of God is at Shiloh.

Look how far one man’s sin became!

Judges 19

Probably the most gruesome chapter in the Bible:

A Levite from Ephraim takes a concubine from Bethlehem. She leaves him and goes back to her father’s house. The Levite goes to make amends and her father welcomes him.

The Levite plans to leave but is repeatedly delayed by the woman’s father. After five days, the Levite refuses to stay longer and departs

The Levite, his concubine, and servant travel and the servant suggests stopping in Jebus (Jerusalem), but the Levite refuses because it is inhabited by foreigners.

They continue to Gibeah in Benjamin and lodge in the town square until an old man offers them hospitality.

Wicked men of the city surround the house, demanding to sexually abuse the Levite. The host offers his virgin daughter and the Levite’s concubine instead (!!!!)

“Violate them and do with them what seems good to you” this is just horrific.

The men take the concubine, rape her all night, and release her at dawn. She collapses at the door of the house and dies.

In the morning, the Levite finds her dead at the door. He places her body on his donkey and goes home. He cuts her body into twelve pieces and sends them throughout Israel.

All who see it are horrified, saying nothing like this has ever happened in Israel.

Judges 20

All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, assembles at Mizpah (400,000 men)

The Levite recounts what happened to his concubine. The people demand the tribe of Benjamin hand over the guilty men of Gibeah.

Benjamin refuses to surrender them, instead decided defend Gibeah.

Benjamin gets 26,000 warriors plus 700 elite left-handed slingers who could “sling a stone at a hair and not miss.” Israel’s army is 400,000.

Israel asks God who should lead the battle. The Lord says: Judah first.

First day: Israel is defeated, losing 22,000 men. They weep before the Lord, asking if they should continue. God tells them: Yes.

Second day: Israel loses another 18,000 men. They weep, fast, and offer sacrifices. They inquire of the Lord again, and He promises victory the next day.

Third day: Benjamin initially strikes down 30 Israelites, thinking victory is theirs. But Israel draws them out of the city while the ambush rises up and destroys Gibeah.

• Israel kills 25,100 Benjamite soldiers
• Only 600 Benjamite men escape
• Israel then destroys the towns of Benjamin

Questions

What was the purpose of the beginning of chapter 19?

Why did the men refuse the virgin daughter but willingly rape the woman?

Why did he send her in 12 pieces? To show how evil Israel was? What about how evil HE was??

How did they speak to God if Israel was living in this lawless judge period?

Application

I named these three chapters ‘depravity’ because all I can see is sin after sin. From idolatry, to rape, to murder, to war, these chapters just show how much Israel had fallen after Joshua died. Without God as our ruler, we (individual or society) collapse, and that is exactly what is happening here. Israel has now turned on each other. The theme of Judges is that Israel “does what is right in their own eyes” and chapter after chapter we see the effects of that. I’m sure we can see the effects of this today in society and with individuals. If God isn’t at the center, we are just waiting for chaos and destruction.