DBG - March 26 - Judges 18-19

In this chapter the tribe of Dan seeks a new territory and falls to idolatry.

Reese’s Chronological Bible puts this at 1420 B.C., making it occur in the middle of chapter 2. 

vs. 1-12 – The tribe of Dan failed to conquer their allotted land (Joshua 19:40-46, Judges 1:34).  Instead of fighting for their inheritance, they send scouts to locate a place that would be more easily conquered.  These men encounter the Levite employed by Micah from the previous chapter, who tells them God is behind their quest.  The scouts locate an area north of the Sea of Galilee bordering the Phoenician territory controlled by Zidon.  600 men prepare for battle to take the new land.

vs. 13-26 – On the way north to take their new territory, the army marches through Mt. Ephraim where Micah and his Levite lived.  They convince the Levite that it would be better to serve their tribe than just one man and took all the idols and implements of his work.  Micah catches up with them, but they are too strong to be forced to return the Levite and his things. 

vs. 27-31 – Laish (“lion”) is conquered and a new city established named Dan for their tribe.  This fulfilled Moses’ prophetic words of Deuteronomy 33:22, “Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.”  Bashan is the territory north and east of the Sea of Galilee.  It seems this move may have divided the tribe between those who kept their original territory and those who sought the new lands.  There they set up their own shrine with its idol.  This corrupt worship continued until the Assyrians and Babylonians captured the land.  Some think this idolatry is why Dan is not listed in the tribes in Revelation 7:4-8, but they are in Ezekiel 48 in the Millennial Kingdom.

In this chapter we have the unspeakable crime perpetrated by the Benjaminites at Gibeah. 

vs. 1-21 – The setting of the story before the crime unfolds.  An unnamed Levite, who must have been of some eminence to have a servant and have a concubine.  Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines a concubine as “a wife of inferior condition; a lawful wife, but not united to the man by the usual ceremonies, and of inferior condition.”  A sad practice of ancient times when polygamy was common (and is never commanded or endorsed by the Bible I might add). The concubine is unfaithful and flees back to her family.  The Levite and his servant go to reconcile with her and bring her back.  They are welcomed warmly by the father and stay beyond their intention.  They finally leave and not wanting to stay among Canaanites at Jebus (Jerusalem), they make it to Gibeah.  At Gibeah the local Benjaminites fail to offer hospitality to the travelers.  An old Ephraimite that lived there takes them in with all due courtesy.

vs. 22-30 -  We have here a sad parallel to the wickedness of Sodom in Genesis 19:1-8.  The wicked idolators attempted to force the aged host to deliver his guest so they could abuse him.  The man offers his own daughter and the concubine instead.  The Levite ends up forcing his concubine out to be victim to the debauchery of the wicked men.  In an age where wickedness was common, the violation of this poor woman is rock bottom.  She makes it back to the house of the old man at dawn but dies at the door before she can knock or cry for admittance.  The text reads that she fell, but with what follows it seems she was dead.  The Levite flees home to safety.  Once there, he takes the body of his concubine, divides it into twelve pieces, and sends the pieces to the tribes of Israel.  It was a call to arms to avenge the inhumanity that occurred.  We shall see its conclusion in the next chapter.

The final chapters of Judges are perhaps the darkest in the Bible.  It is one thing to read of such crimes in the annals of pagan history, but to read them about a people that God had so wonderfully chosen and redeemed is another thing indeed.  Sadly, the worst sinners are often those who rejected the clear light they had and embraced darkness full on.  It is the “Descent of Man” that Paul describes in Romans 1:18-32.  Never underestimate the power of sin.

As you can readily imagine, there are no hymns written based directly on these chapters.  Here is a case where that is not a bad thing to say.  So for today I have chosen a text by Isaac Watts titled “The Prosperity of Sinners Cursed”.  Even though sin and darkness may abound, we must remind ourselves that God is in control and justice will be served.

Lord, what a thoughtless Wretch was I,
To mourn, and murmur, and repine,
To see the Wicked plac'd on high,
In Pride and Robes of Honour shine!

But, O their End, their dreadful End!
Thy Sanctuary taught me so;
O slipp'ry Rocks I see them stand,
And fi'ry Billows roll below.

Now let 'em boast how tall they rise,
I'll never envy them again;
There they may stand with haughty Eyes,
Till they plunge deep in endless Pain.

Their fancy'd Joys, how fast they flee!
Just like a Dream when Man awakes;
Their Songs of softest Harmony
Are but a Preface to their Plagues.

Now I esteem their Mirth and Wine
Too dear to Purchase with my Blood;
Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mine,
My Life, my Portion, and my GOD.