Setting – The horrible death of the Levites concubine in Jerusalem.
Content – A Levite took concubine from Bethlehem. She was unfaithful to him and returned home to her father. The Levite went to Bethlehem to bring her home. The concubine’s father had the Levite stay an extra two nights passed what he was planning on.
On their return home they stayed in Jerusalem (Jebus). While staying at someone’s house, the men of the city want the owner of the house to bring out the Levite so that they might have relations with him. The Levite threw out the concubine outside the front door. The men of the city abused her all night. She fell down at the front door of the house. The Levite (v. 28), “He said to her, "Get up and let us go," but there was no answer. Then he placed her on the donkey; and the man arose and went to his home.”
He sent out pieces of her throughout Jerusalem so that (v. 30), “All who saw {it} said, "Nothing like this has {ever} happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel and speak up!”
Application – A concubine for Levite isn’t illegal but her being unfaithful would have disgraced his priestly hood. She should have been stoned for her sin and the priest at least should have divorced her. His motive for seeking her and wanting to return her home is unclear. But his disgraceful act of handing her over to the vile men (lit. ‘Sons of Belial’) of the city seems to show his detest of her. Verse 27 seems to indicate that he would assume that she would have been killed “When her master arose in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, then behold, his concubine was lying at the doorway of the house with her hands on the threshold.”
The bizarre purpose of this act of sending out her remains to the twelve tribes was to incite the tribes against the horrific act against the women.
Personal application of this is rather difficult. What I see though is that once followers of God become debase in their actions, bizarre actions can occur. The application here is that we must avoid the natural degradation that society pulls on us. Consistent effort and focus on our Christian walk, which is similar to what God commanded Solomon to re-write the commandments, daily meditation on his commandments.
Content – A Levite took concubine from Bethlehem. She was unfaithful to him and returned home to her father. The Levite went to Bethlehem to bring her home. The concubine’s father had the Levite stay an extra two nights passed what he was planning on.
On their return home they stayed in Jerusalem (Jebus). While staying at someone’s house, the men of the city want the owner of the house to bring out the Levite so that they might have relations with him. The Levite threw out the concubine outside the front door. The men of the city abused her all night. She fell down at the front door of the house. The Levite (v. 28), “He said to her, "Get up and let us go," but there was no answer. Then he placed her on the donkey; and the man arose and went to his home.”
He sent out pieces of her throughout Jerusalem so that (v. 30), “All who saw {it} said, "Nothing like this has {ever} happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel and speak up!”
Application – A concubine for Levite isn’t illegal but her being unfaithful would have disgraced his priestly hood. She should have been stoned for her sin and the priest at least should have divorced her. His motive for seeking her and wanting to return her home is unclear. But his disgraceful act of handing her over to the vile men (lit. ‘Sons of Belial’) of the city seems to show his detest of her. Verse 27 seems to indicate that he would assume that she would have been killed “When her master arose in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, then behold, his concubine was lying at the doorway of the house with her hands on the threshold.”
The bizarre purpose of this act of sending out her remains to the twelve tribes was to incite the tribes against the horrific act against the women.
Personal application of this is rather difficult. What I see though is that once followers of God become debase in their actions, bizarre actions can occur. The application here is that we must avoid the natural degradation that society pulls on us. Consistent effort and focus on our Christian walk, which is similar to what God commanded Solomon to re-write the commandments, daily meditation on his commandments.
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