Judges 21: The Aftermath of Moral Decay
THE MORAL DECAY of Israel continued to grow worse. In Judges 19 we are told the story of a man and his concubine who, while traveling, had stopped for the night in the town of Gibeah. Instead of offering hospitality, the residents of Gibeah tried to rape the man. To save himself, he gave the townsfolk his concubine instead. The poor woman was gang-raped and left dead on the doorstep. In an attempt to gain sympathy and to justify himself, the enraged lover cut the body of his concubine into twelve pieces and sent one to each tribe of Israel with a message demanding that justice be done. This incident resulted in a bloody and devastating civil war against not only the town of Gibeah but also the entire tribe of Benjamin (Jdg 20). In the aftermath of the civil war, the Israelites began to regret what they had done. All of the women from the tribe of Benjamin had been killed and only six hundred men remained alive.
Warming Up to God
When have you made a promise foolishly? What should be done about foolish promises?
Read Judges 21. »
Discovering the Word
- The Israelites ask God, "Why has this happened to Israel? Why should one tribe be missing from Israel today?" (v. 3). How would you answer their question?
- What is right and what is wrong about the Israelites' actions in this chapter?
- What do you learn from this story about the importance of and the process for reconciliation?
- What did the Israelites understand about the making and keeping of vows, and where had they gone wrong in their vow making (vv. 7, 12-23)?
- The book of Judges ends with a phrase that is repeated often, especially in the last five chapters: "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit." Why is the author so concerned that we know this?
Applying the Word
- With whom might God be calling you to reconcile?
- How can you do this?
- What foolish promise do you need to reconsider today?
Responding in Prayer
Ask God to give you wisdom in your relationships as you reconcile brokenness and make and keep promises.
For Further Study
God's Neighborhood by Scott Roley with James Isaac Elliott