JUDGES 19

THE CONCUBINE OF THE LEVITE MAN TORTURED

While a Levite man is traveling with his concubine, five leaders from the tribe of Benjamin abuse and rape the woman. She is left for dead and her body is severed into twelve pieces, each sent out among the twelve tribes of Israel.

Judges 17, 18, and 19 show the rebellious and destructive nature of the Israelites, displaying how they have forgotten or disregarded the commands of God. Although Judges were appointed, the state of Israel was disobedient and wicked.

This is a tragic picture of how far God’s people had fallen. When God’s commands are ignored and human selfishness takes over, the result is often devastating, especially for those with the least power.