Scripture

Everyone who saw it said, “Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt.”

Observation

The Levite of the previous chapters takes a woman as his concubine. After a while, he returns to her father’s house in Bethlehem. Four months later, he goes back to Bethlehem to persuade her to come back with him.

Her father entertains the man with much feasting, but after five days the Levite, his concubine, and his servant leave to return home. They stop to spend the night in the town of Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. They are taken in by a man, but some troublemakers come and demand that the Levite come out so they can rape him. Eventually, to appease the mob, they push the concubine out through the door. The mob rape and abuse her all night. She collapses and dies. The husband takes her body home, and then cuts it into 12 pieces, sending one piece to each of the tribes.

Application

This event sounds very similar to the events of Genesis 19 which led to the destruction of Sodom.

This crime was so horrific that it demanded some sort of retribution to cleanse Israel of its stain.

Every now and again, a crime so horrific occurs that’s it gets the attention of a nation and leads to change.

As follower of Jesus, we need to take our own sin as seriously as the “mega sins” of others. We don’t need to point out the failings of other people, we just allow the Holy Spirit to deal with the depravity of our own heart.

Prayer

Lord, I confess that I so easily fall short of the standards you set for your people. Please forgive me and grant me victory to live a holy life. Amen