1-21 The Levite's Concubine
- Like the last story, this takes place in the hill country of Ephraim.
- A Levite living there has a concubine from Bethlehem in Judea, who leaves him to go back home.
- Laden with gifts for her, he goes to Bethlehem to bring her back, after several delays, because her father persuades him to stay "just one more night."
- On the way back, with his servant and his concubine, after refusing to stop in Jebus (Jerusalem) for the night because they are not Israelites, he continues to Gibeah, home of Benjamites, where an old man from Ephraim offers him shelter.
- Perverse men of Gibeah surround the house, demanding the Levite for sexual purposes. The old man refuses, offering his virgin daughter and the Levite's concubine instead. The Levite sends out his concubine, they abuse her all night, release her, and she comes back to the old man's house and dies in the doorway.
- The Levite (and this is hard to read, much less type) cuts her into 12 pieces and distributes the pieces to the 12 tribes of Israel with this message: "Has such a thing ever happened since the day that the Israelites came up from the land of Egypt until this day? Consider it, take counsel, and speak out." The only purpose I can see for citing the details of this story is to illustrate what happens when people do what is right in their own sight. At the beginning they have no idea that such an attitude will lead them in this direction. By the time they get there, they have no conscience about it.
- Out of curiosity, I looked back at Jacob's prophecy of the tribe of Benjamin in Genesis 49 and found this: "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey, and at evening dividing the spoil."
1-47 Other Tribes Attack Benjamin
- As a result of the graphic message, all the Israelites -- from Dan to Beersheba -- gather at Mizpah - 400,000 foot soldiers bearing arms - and meet with the Levite, who tells them what happened.
- The Israelites agree to attack Gibeah.
- First, they ask the tribe of Benjamin to deliver to them the men who molested the concubine, but the Benjaminites refuse, gathering 26,000 armed men, plus inhabitants of Gibeah.
- 700 of them are left-handed and can sling a stone "at a hair, and not miss." (Left-handed Benjaminites -- as was the judge Ehud. So is this a characteristic of the tribe of Benjamin?)
- They ask God who should go first, and he sends Judah.
- The first day of battle, Israel loses 22,000 men. Mourning, they inquire of God again, and he tells them to "go up against them."
- The second day of battle, Israel loses 18,000 more men. In mourning again, they fast and offer burnt offerings and sacrifices of well-being. Phinehas, son of Eleazar, inquires of God, who answers, "Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand."
- The third day of battle, Israel draws the Benjaminites away from the city, and with 10,000 men, kills 25,100 men of Benjamin.
- Other troops enter the city, "put it to sword." Seeing smoke come out of the city, a pre-arranged signal, the Israelites in and out of the city trap the Benjaminites in between.
- In all, 25,000 armor-bearing Benjaminites are killed that day, "all of them courageous fighters." 600 flee to the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stay for 4 months. The Israelites finish off the rest of the tribe.
1-25 Wives for the Remaining Benjamites
- All those gathered at Mizpah had sworn not to give any of their daughters to a Benjaminite.
- Now they are concerned, in making such an oath, they have obliterated one of their own tribes.
- They surmise that none from Jabesh-Gilead joined in the attack, so they send 12,000 soldiers and kill everyone in Jabesh-Gilead except 400 virgins, and give them to Benjamin.
- 400 virgins aren't enough for the 600 men who escaped, so they are given permission to abduct virgins from Shiloh. If their fathers protest, the Israelites will reply, Be nice to us, because we didn't capture enough virgins to go around for the Benjamites. And this frees you from the guilt of having given them to us [and thereby breaking your Mizpah oath].
- Then another reminder of how this could happen, and how the people have become so degenerate: "In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes."
Whereas Psalm 65 was a personal song of praise, this one calls others to recognize God's greatness.
1, 3 - "Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth...Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds!"
2 Corinthians 4
1-15 Treasure in Clay Jars
- Therefore [seeing we are changing into the image of Christ], and since it is by God's mercy we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.
- We have moved beyond shamefulness and cunning and have clear consciences.
- The gospel we preach is open to all who have not been blinded by the god this world. Isn't this what Jesus said in Mark 4:9? "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
- This treasure (this gospel) is in clay jars. We are obviously flawed human beings, making it clear that the power is in God, not us.
- Then Paul lists the ways they demonstrate the life of Jesus in their bodies: afflicted, but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, etc.
- I believe, so I speak -- it's that simple for Paul. It's a matter of faith.
- Again -- [because of our faith] we do not lose heart.
- Because as our bodies waste away, our inner strength is renewed.
- It's a minor affliction compared to what we will receive in eternity ("an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure").
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