dark horror story in scripture
18 - 08/25 /16:33
The conclusion of the OT book of Judges is a dark horror story of gang rape and murder.
Centuries before David became king of Israel, “A Levite from a remote area in the hill country took a concubine from Bethlehem.” A Levite was a member of the Israelite tribe of Levi who served as a kind of assistant priest. A concubine could be a second-class wife, or a sexual partner or simply a female servant living under a man’s protection.
This story in Judges suggests a father entered into a contract to marry off his daughter to a Levite.
Centuries before David became king of Israel, “A Levite from a remote area in the hill country took a concubine from Bethlehem.” A Levite was a member of the Israelite tribe of Levi who served as a kind of assistant priest. A concubine could be a second-class wife, or a sexual partner or simply a female servant living under a man’s protection.
This story in Judges suggests a father entered into a contract to marry off his daughter to a Levite.
Soon after, that young woman ran away and returned home. Four months later “her husband” the Levite traveled to Bethlehem in hopes of persuading her to return with him. That she ran away, that he delayed four months seeking reconciliation, suggests theirs was a lousy marriage.
Yet, somehow he persuaded her to return with him.
On their return journey to the Levite’s home they bypass the non-Israelite city of Jebus, stopping instead in the Israeli village of Gibeah, part of the lands of Benjamin. An old man provides a night’s lodging. That’s when the horror begins.
During dinner a mob surrounded the old man’s house, pounding on his door, shouting, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.”
Initially the old man sounds courageous. “Don’t do this vile, outrageous thing.” Then his own immorality was displayed. “Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you can do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.”
The old man then throws the Levite’s concubine (but not his daughter) out to the tender mercies of the rape-gang. She is raped to death. While her horror continues throughout the night her Levite husband says nothing. Does nothing. Next morning he puts his dead wife on a donkey, taking her body home. There the Levite bizarrely cuts her body into twelve pieces, sending one piece to each of Israel’s twelve tribes to provoke shock and action.
People were shocked. “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Something must be done. We must act!”
Act they did. The tribe of Benjamin suffered genocide at the hands of their own people. Only 600 survived. Then, shocked by their own violence, the people of Israel weep, “Lord, God of Israel, why has this happened to Israel? Why should one tribe be missing from Israel today?”
Why was this dark horror story recorded by the ancient Judges of Israel? It alerted the people that they were inadequate to function as a theocracy.
Why is this horror story in the Bible? It is a warning people everywhere and in every generation; it can be dangerous to live in any society where people choose their own truth. ~
Blessings,
Dan Nygaard
Yet, somehow he persuaded her to return with him.
On their return journey to the Levite’s home they bypass the non-Israelite city of Jebus, stopping instead in the Israeli village of Gibeah, part of the lands of Benjamin. An old man provides a night’s lodging. That’s when the horror begins.
During dinner a mob surrounded the old man’s house, pounding on his door, shouting, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.”
Initially the old man sounds courageous. “Don’t do this vile, outrageous thing.” Then his own immorality was displayed. “Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you can do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.”
The old man then throws the Levite’s concubine (but not his daughter) out to the tender mercies of the rape-gang. She is raped to death. While her horror continues throughout the night her Levite husband says nothing. Does nothing. Next morning he puts his dead wife on a donkey, taking her body home. There the Levite bizarrely cuts her body into twelve pieces, sending one piece to each of Israel’s twelve tribes to provoke shock and action.
People were shocked. “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Something must be done. We must act!”
Act they did. The tribe of Benjamin suffered genocide at the hands of their own people. Only 600 survived. Then, shocked by their own violence, the people of Israel weep, “Lord, God of Israel, why has this happened to Israel? Why should one tribe be missing from Israel today?”
Why was this dark horror story recorded by the ancient Judges of Israel? It alerted the people that they were inadequate to function as a theocracy.
Why is this horror story in the Bible? It is a warning people everywhere and in every generation; it can be dangerous to live in any society where people choose their own truth. ~
Blessings,
Dan Nygaard