Judges 20: Fallout from the Levite's concubine story

Judges 20: The Other Tribes Attack Benjamin

Judges 21 and 22 are the last two chapters of the book of Judges, though no judges appear within the stories. Instead the reading tells of what life was like after Joshua and before the monarchy, when Israel was a little disjointed and the tribes acted for themselves. Some of them make mistakes, as we discovered in yesterday's reading. Today we read of the fallout from the Gibeah affair, as the Benjaminites as a tribeare punished for the sins of the citizens of the town of Gibeah.

The Other Tribes Attach Benjamin: Judges 20
After each tribe receives a part of the Levite's concubine, all the Israelites gather at an assembly at Mizpah, including 400,000 armed foot soldiers. There the Levite explains his story (quoted verbatim below):

I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. The lords of Gibeah rose up against me, and surrounded the house at night. They intended to kill me, and they raped my concubine until she died. Then I took my concubine and cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the whole extent of Israel's territory; for they have committed a vile outrage in Israel. So now, you Israelites, all of you, give your advice and counsel here.
(Judg. 20.4-7)

Let's examine the Levite's speech. The lords of Gibeah did rise up against him and surround the house. However, their stated intention was not to kill him, but to rape him. And while it is true that they raped his concubine until she died, it was he that threw her out there in the first place. The Levite's story is not factual; it leaves out important details that should be considered.

Action is taken solely on the Levite's testimony - no other witness steps forward. The Israelites decide amongst themselves to send 10 percent of the men (10 of every 100) from every tribe to unite in an attack against Gibeah.

Men are sent through Benjamin to ask the Benjamintes to give up their brethren in Gibeah. But the Benjamintes do not listen and instead decide to defend Gibeah. The impending battle will have Benjamin (26,000 men plus the residents of Gibeah) face off against the 11 other tribes of Israel (400,000 warriors). Of the Benjaminite army is an elite group of 700 left-handed men who can sling a stone at a hair and not miss. Presumably they will be primarily responsible for the upcoming carnage.

The Israelites proceed to Bethel, where they ask God which tribe shall go up first in battle. The Lord responds Judah. His statement makes explicit his approval of the whole affair - and indeed he will back the Israelite army. So why does God support war based on the testimony of a liar? Though this is not explicated, perhaps the answer lies in the story of Samson, in which God hacks together a situation on earth to deliver divine justice.

On the first day of battle, 22,000 Israelites are struck down. They weep before the Lord until evening, and ask if they should attack again. The Lord responds affirmatively.

On the second day of battle, 18,000 Israelites are struck down. They weep before the Lord and fast until evening, and then offer burnt offerngs and sacrifices of well-being befor ethe Lord. And ask if they should attack again. The Lord responds affirmatively - tomorrow Benjamin will be given into their hand.

Day Three, Version I
On the third day of battle, Israel stations some men in ambush and around the city and the rest begin battle as usual. They draw the Benjaminites from the city and those in ambush attack and capture the city. The Lord defeats Benjamin, with the Israelites destroying 25,100 men of Benjamin, nearly the entire army.

Day Three, Version II
But wait, there's more! The biblical author includes a second, more detailed account.

Arrayed as before with some men lying in ambush and others fighting. The fighters draw the Benjaminites away from the city as those waiting in ambush attack the city and set it aflame. When the Benjamites see the smoke they know that defeat is upon them. 18,000 die as they flee toward the wilderness. 5,000 are cut down on the main roads, and then 2,000 more slain. In all, 25,000 men die, just 100 less than the previous account.

Six hundred Benjaminites are able to escape to the rock of Rimmon, where they remain for four months. Meanwhile, the Israelites slaughter the remaining Benjaminites (men, women, and children), kill their animals, and destroy everything in a blaze of fire. Those 600 at the rock of Rimmon are all that remain of the Benjaminites.

The Benjaminites Saved from Extinction: Judges 21
The civil war is finished, and a lot of clean-up is necessary.

The biblical author informs us that in addition to the pact of retribution, the Israelites had also sworn at Mizpah that none of their daughters should marry a Benjaminite. This is a problem, as there are only 600 members of Benjamin left, all of them men. Soon the Benjaminites will die out, and the Israelites actually weep for the attrition of the tribe (even though they inflicted it themselves).

The Israelites then inquire whether anyone was not present at Mizpah, for it had been decided that all of Israel should be there on pain of death. It turns out that no one from Jabesh-gilead was in attendance. So 12,000 soldiers go down to Jabesh-gilead to slaughter the entire city. But the Israelites seek to simultaneously fix the Benjaminite problem. All the virgins of the city are to be spared and brought to the Benjaminites as wives. Unfortunately, there were only 400 women.

The congregation sends word of peace to the Benjaminites at the rock of Rimmon. They return and are given the women - though 200 men still remain without a wife. These men are instructed to go to Shiloh at the festival of the Lord and wait in the vineyards. When the young women come out to dance in the vineyards, the men are to capture them and take them home.

It's the sex-marriage economy in action!

The book of Judges ends with that constant reminder that has been emphasized throughout the last few chapters: "In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes." This reminds us of all the violence and apostasy of this chapter, and foreshadows the time to come, when there will be a king in Israel and the people will do what is right in his eyes. But we have some more reading to get through first.

There were good judges and bad judges of Israel, but throughout the book a constant theme of the Unfaithfulness Cycle prevailed as a means of demonstrating how the Israelites act when left to their own devices.