THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION JUDGES 21

 THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION

PART 5 OF 5

JUDGES 21

1) Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

2) And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;

3) And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?

4) And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5) And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD?  For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.

6) And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.

7) How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?

8) And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.

9) For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.

10) And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smith the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.

11) And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

12) And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male:  and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

13) And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.

14) And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead:  and yet so they sufficed them not.

15) And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

16) Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

17) And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.

18) Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters:  for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.

19) Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonan.

20) Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;

21) And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

22) And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes:  because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war:  for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.

23) And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught:  and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.

24) And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.

25) In those days there was no king in Israel:  every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

King James Version    (KJV)   Public Domain

DEFINITION

burnt offering:  signifies propitiation for sin and complete surrender, devotion, and commitment to God.  Peace offering was a way to worship Him.

    COMMENTARY

1-3) Here we learn about vows made in the heat of the moment, when emotions ran high regarding the sin committed that resulted in the entire country taking up arms.  Remember that it was not until the second battle was finished and Israel again was defeated that the congregation humbled themselves before the LORD.  When they made such a foolish oath, they were still very much in the flesh, doing what was right in their own eyes.  Now, they realize that oath has dire consequences for their brother, Benjamin.  The good news is that they were not greedy, realizing the property could be shared by the remaining eleven tribes;  nor were power hungry, but they were sorrowful for the almost complete annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin.

"Justice not only brings punishment to evildoers, but it also guards against punishment that is too harsh."  (enduringword.com)

4-9) The assembly once again prostrated themselves before the LORD. This would have been a great time to admit their sin of being a bit zealous regarding the matter, instead, they projected all guilt upon the tribe of Benjamin (and also on God, Himself).  They did not mourn about their 40,000 men who lost their lives in the battles, but of losing an entire tribe of Israel, the much beloved son of Jacob.  It is not recorded that they waited upon God's direction, but went out and destroyed another city and it's inhabitants.  This was their fleshly solution of the sin they committed with their hot-headed oath.  (Had they consulted God before any battle began, maybe they would have spared all but those who picked up weapons against them.)  Furthermore, they did not consult God regarding the re-establishment of the tribe of Benjamin, but rather, came up with their own solution.

   Aren't we even guilty of not consulting God when we are facing major decisions in our own lives?  His solutions are always better than ours, since we still live in this world and are, more often than not, influenced by this world.  Dear Friend, let us pause and seek His counsel.

10-22) The congregation got together and realized the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead had not joined against Benjamin, so they sent some of the army off to continue their slaughter of their brothers (this time in Jabeshgilead) as though they were Canaanites, without once again asking Phinehas to ask of God if they should continue on their course.  The result was that only 400 virgins were left alive, but there were 600 Benjamites without wives.  We often fall short when we try to do things on our own.  We are to pray constantly, recognizing from where our strength comes.

   Meanwhile, the elders decided on a course to re-establish the tribe of Benjamin.  Still, they were not asking Phineas to inquire of God, but were adding more chaos to what had already transpired, by deciding on a course of action on their own.  How quickly we resume our place on the throne of our lives which we gave to God.  After all, we can do it ourselves.  We only need God when we get in a bind, right?

   The others went to Rimmon to speak peace with the remaining men of Benjamin. The Benjamites came back to camp with the Israelites and were given the 400 virgins from Jabeshgilead.  For the remaining 200 men, they were instructed to come back to their brothers during a feast when the daughters of Israel danced and each without a wife were to steal one of the daughters to wife. They assured them that the tribe would not hold them accountable for this.  Neither would the oath that they made in haste be broken.

image courtesy of publicdomainvectors.org

23) The Benjamites did as they were directed to do, each obtaining a wife----only one wife.  Then they returned to their territory (inheritance) and repaired the damage done during the war and lived there. The other tribes went back to their own inheritances.

24) They all went back to doing what was right in their own eyes, even before they departed for their own inheritances.  Dear Friends, our strength comes from The LORD.  When we consult Him first, we don't have to spend our time and energy in cleaning up our messes afterward.  Furthermore, our elected officials would do well to seek God before making decisions for the entire nation.  This is how it should be.

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THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION JUDGES 20

 THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION--PART 4

JUDGES 20

1) Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

2) And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

3) (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.)  Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?

4) And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. 

5) And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me:  and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.

6) And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel:  for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

7) Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.

8) And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house. 

9) But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;

10) And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.

11) So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

12) And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?

13) Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel.  But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.

14) But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

15) And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

16) Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

17) And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword:  all these were men of war.

18) And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.

19) And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

20) And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.

21) And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

22) And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.

23) (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?  And the LORD said, Go up against him.)

24) And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

25) And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

26) Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until eve, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

27) And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

28) And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?  And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

29) And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.

30) And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.

31) And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

32) And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first.  But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.

33) And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar:  and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah.

34) And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore:  but they knew not that evil was near them.

35) And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel:  and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men:  all these drew the sword. 

36) So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten:  for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.

37) And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

38) Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.

39) And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons:  for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.

40) But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.

41) And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed:  for they saw that evil was come upon them.

42) Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.

43) Thus they enclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.

44) And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.

45) And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon:  and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.

46) So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.

47) But six hundred man turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon, four months.

48) And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand:  also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.     King James Version  (KJV)     Public Domain

COMMENTARY

photo courtesy of thebiblejourney.org

1) This was a wake up call for all of Israel.  They had moved away from God's laws but this brought the laws back to their conscious.  They gathered as one man, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.   It was a sort of mental revival for them and they all agreed and met together to decide a course of action; all but the tribe of Benjamin.  Benjamin was Jacob's youngest son and much loved but his descendants have moved far from God.  

   Deuteronomy 13: 12 - 18 gives instruction on the plan of action:  when troublemakers have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods you have not known), then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly.  And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you, you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town.  You must destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock.  You are to gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God.  

2) There were four hundred thousand (400,000) foot soldiers

3-5) Israel questions the Levite regarding the event and receives his account of what transpired without admitting any personal guilt.  The Benjamites knew representatives from all of the tribes were there but sent no one from their tribe.

6, 7) He expected to be protected from evil by his fellow Israelites but evil was perpetrated by the Tribe of Benjamin.  We are all the sons of Israel, so what are you going to do about it?  (Levites, the priesthood, were not to go to war.)

8-11) The Tribes of Israel responded in unity saying they will not go home but they will address this evil done in Gibeah of Benjamin.

12, 13) The Tribes of Israel went about all the towns in Benjamin asking for the perpetrators of such evil but the Benjamites refused to give them up.

14) The Sons of Benjamin decided to fight the other 11 tribes to protect the evil doers.  Their army numbered 26,000 outside of Gibeah and another 700 in the city of Gibeah.  Seven hundred of the fighting men were crack shots with a sling shot, which did not require hand to hand combat.

15 -20))  Israel's army numbered 400,000 seasoned warriors.  They sought counsel from God and even asked which Tribe should take the lead.  Judah was the one to take first strike at Benjamin.  Remember in Genesis 44, when Judah offered himself to protect his brother, Benjamin from the Egyptian (who was actually their brother Joseph)?   Then, they set up their army around Benjamin.  

21) The first day of battle, the Benjamites had victory and killed 22,000 warriors.

22 - 24) The children of Israel went again to inquire of God if they should keep fighting their brother, Benjamin, weeping until evening.  God said yes, keep fighting. So, the army of Israel went back for day two.

25) The children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah again and this time, they killed a resounding 18,000 warriors of Israel! 

26 - 28) After another whipping from evil, everybody went to the house of God.  They finally realized that even though they were fighting evil, they were just as sinful as the Tribe of Benjamin.  So, they humbled themselves and prayed and fasted and offered sacrifices to God for their sins.  Then they asked again if they should continue the fight.  This time, God said, Yes and I will give you victory. 

  That is so how our own lives are.  We see the sin of others and we give lip service to our God, but when we humble ourselves and seek His face.  When we turn from our wicked ways and repent, He is just to forgive us.  Then, and not until then, He will give us victory.  We are not engaged with flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities.  America did not humble ourselves even though we have been calling for it for at least two years!  He will bring us to our knees one way or the other.

29 - 35) This time, Israel set liers in hiding around Gibeah.  Then when the Israelites came to fight the Benjamites, the Benjamites killed a couple of men and then decided it was day 3 for victory, so they chased them.  The Israelites had taken a page out of the Book of Joshua chapter 8.  This time, Israel killed 25,100 Benjamites.  You recall, their entire army consisted of 26,000 soldiers outside Gibeah and another 700 inside the city.

36 - 48) Six hundred Benjamite warriors fled after the onslaught by The LORD, because, truth be told, it was He who won the war.  The Israelites chased them and killed the men of every city and their beasts and set fire to their cities.

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THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION---JUDGES 19

 THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION---PART 3

JUDGES 19

1) And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.

2) And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.

3) And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house:  and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

4) And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days:  so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

5) And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.

6) And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together:  for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.

7) And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him:  therefore he lodged there again.

8) And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee.  And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.

9) And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night:  behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.

10) But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.

11) And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.

12) And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.

13) And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

14) And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin

15) And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city:  for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.

16) And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.

17) And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?

18) And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I:  and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.

19) Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants:  there is no want of any thing.

20) And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.

21) So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses:  and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

22) Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

23) And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.

24) Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you:  but unto this man do not so vile a thing.

25) But the men would not hearken to him:  so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning:  and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

26) Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.

27) And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way:  and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.

28) And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going.  But none answered.  Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.

29) And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.

30) And it was so, that all that saw it said, There is no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day:  consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.        King James Version (KJV)     Public Domain

COMMENTARY

1) Here is yet another Levite who refuses to acknowledge there is a King in Israel and goes about doing what he FEELS is right. He was from BethlehemJudah but migrated to Ephraim.  That was his first mistake.  Sometimes we feel that we are more important than we really are.  He probably wanted personal recognition.  That is also a sin.  ("The last will be first and the first will be last.") We are to do our best at what we are called to do....without grumbling.

 2) The second mistake this Levite made was not following God's command of who he should marry.  She was to be a virgin; not a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman defiled by prostitution, but only a virgin from his own people, so that he will not defile his offspring (also Levites) among his people.  Leviticus 21: 13 - 15.  The LORD stresses the fact that it is He Who makes him holy.  So, if she committed adultery, he should have never chased after her.  But wait!  She was not his wife, but his legal mistress, his concubine! That was not ordained of God!  So, that's strike two!

   Furthermore, why did he wait four months to bring her back?  Why did she leave in the first place?

3) The Levite decided to go to his concubine and talk her into coming back to him.  The girl's dad was happy about that.  Surely the dad should expect a lot of blessings of God by almost having a Levite in the family.  Maybe the girl was a handful and flirted with every man she came in contact with?

4) The Levite agreed to stay three days.

5) He lingered another day.

6)  Note that they are eating and drinking.

7) Too much drink?  So, he stays another night.

8) Here, they just eat.  Then the Levite and company get a late start on their journey.

9) The damsel's dad continues to try to talk his guest into staying longer.  Now, understand that we are not privy to what the issue was to begin with.  Was the concubine a "lady of the night"?  Was the Levite abusive to her?  What was the issue that prompted her to leave and why did he not remedy the situation until four months had passed?  The text leaves us to our own imagination.  How could he be gone from his responsibilities five days to tend to personal issues?

10) Even though it was late, they left and got as far as Jerusalem.  At this time in history, though, the town was not controlled by Israel, but by the Jebusites.

11) The servant implored his master to lodge in there for the night.

12) The Levite did not want to take chances on trying to find lodging in a strange clan's town, and pushed on to an Israelite controlled city.

13) They would stay in either Gibeah or Ramah, depending on how much longer they could travel.

14) It was dark when they came on Gibeah, which belonged to the Tribe of Benjamin-----Israelites.

15) It was the custom in those days for strangers to be invited into the homes of permanent residents, especially if they were of the Tribes of Jacob.

16 - 19)) Finally, a foreigner of the town, a man from Ephraim, who had a business there, saw the strangers and invited them to enjoy his hospitality. The Levite explained that they would not be a bother, as they had their own provisions, even to care for the animals. 

20) The old man insisted that they enjoy food and lodging provided by him.  He did not want them spending the night in the street.

21) The foreigner showed his guests hospitality.

22) While the travelers and their host were enjoying food and drink, evil men of the city came and demanded the Levite be brought to them so they could know him (sexually).

23) The host went out and asked the men to leave the traveler alone since he had been extended hospitality in his house.

24) As it was in the Book of Genesis when evil men tried to take angels out of Lot's house to have relations with them, the old man offered his virgin daughter and the Levite's concubine.  The difference between Genesis and here is Abraham.  Lot was Abraham's nephew and Abraham had a relationship with the Most High God. Here, though, the Benjamites did not enforce the law of Moses, so evil was rampant.  The Levite did not live according to the Law of Moses.  The foreigner was not of the Tribes of Jacob.  So, no one here was under God's protection.  So, if the old man thought God would intervene here as He did in Sodom, he was in for a big surprise.

25) The Levite sent his concubine, who was the cause of them being there to begin with, out to the wicked men.  Did he think they would walk away and leave her alone?  Did he think that she needed to be punished for running away?  Notice that they did not ask for the servant, nor was he offered as a substitute for the Levite. 

   The wicked men did what was right in their own eyes to the concubine all night.  As the day began to break, they released her.

26) The concubine managed to return to the old man's house and fell down just outside the door until it was light outside.

27) When the Levite awoke and prepared to leave, note here that he did not stay up all night on his knees in prayer about his situation.  He opened the door and discovered the concubine laying at the door with her hands on the threshold (the bottom of the door entry).

28) He said to her, Get up and let's go; but she didn't move.  He put her lifeless body on one of the donkeys and went home.  There was no wailing nor weeping?  He just coldly put her on the donkey?

29) When he got home, he cut his concubine's body up into twelve pieces and sent them throughout the territory of Israel.  This is an act of rage, not repentance.

30) Everyone who saw it were stunned.  total disbelief! They held counsel to verbalize their disgust and to discuss a plan of action.  It is not mentioned that they sent for counsel from the religious authorities nor that they prayed about it, asking God's direction.  They were going to do what was right in their own eyes.

What about you?  Are your eyes opened enough to see your own sin and the sin of our churches?  Our nation has sinned against God and our churches (much like these Levites) have led us astray.  We do not study His Holy Word but accept memes on our social media in place of church service.  Where are God's people at such a time as this?

Click here to discover how you can have a relationship with the One True God, Jehovah, God with us:    https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray that God uses us to spread The Gospel to those who are seeking Him.  You are also invited to share this post on your favorite social media if you have "friends or followers" who might benefit from it.  We also encourage you to leave us a message on this site, as it is encouragement to us when we hear from you.  God bless you richly.

JUDGES 18----THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION

 THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION---PART 2

JUDGES 18

photo courtesy of Bible History  Maps, Images, Archeology

1) In those days there was no king in Israel:  and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.

2) And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, man of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land:  who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.

3) When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite:  and they turned in tither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?

4) And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.

5) And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.

6) And the priest said unto them, Go in peace:  before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.

7) Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.

8) And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?

9) And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them:  for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good:  and are ye still?  be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.

10) When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land:  for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.

11) And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.

12) And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah:  wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day:  behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.

13) And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.

14) Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.

15) And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.

16) And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.

17) And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image:  and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.

18) And these went into Micha's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image.  Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?

19) And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest:  is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?

20) And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.

21) So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

22) And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.

23) And they cried unto the children of Dan.  And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?

24) And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away:  and what have I more?  and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?

25) And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.

26) And the children of Dan went their way:  and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.

27) And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure:  and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

28) And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob.  And they built a city and dwelt therein.

29) And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel:  howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.

30) And the children of Dan set up the graven image:  and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

31) And they set them up Micha's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.                               King James Version (KJV)  Public Domain

COMMENTARY

1) There was no king in Israel.  There was law but no one cared to obey it.  The LORD was King but He was being ignored and the people were doing whatever was right in their own eyes.  So, the tribe of Dan had been allocated land by Jehovah but they did not go in and take it.  Then, they decided they would scout around to find land that they wouldn't have to fight so hard to take.  After all, the Philistines occupied their portion that was given them.  They refused to believe on God and take what was theirs.  So, they picked out a few men to scout around for other land which was not given to them by God.  This is how you set yourself up for failure:  do not obey God.

2-4)  They lodged in Ephraim on their scouting journey, at the house of Micah.  There they found a Levite whom they must have heard preaching at Shiloh, where he was stationed, but here he was!  They asked him what he was doing there.  He replied that he had accepted Micah's proposal to hire him and be his priest.  He was not concerned for Micah's soul, but for his own ego and wallet.  He had compromised preaching God's Word and was content to be a motivational speaker, as it were.  

5,6) The scouts asked the hired preacher to ask God if their journey will be fruitful.  Without consulting God, however, the Levite told them all would be good.  Doesn't that sound eerily like the "name it and claim it" doctrine we often hear today from some "televangelists"?  Or how about the ones who say, "send money to me and God will bless your plans for your life."?  We are really supposed to consult God first and be living in His will, obeying His laws if we really want to succeed.  Too many people are living under a curse and refuse to hear about it.  They only want to hear the "prosperity doctrine".

9-11) The scouts went back with a glowing report.  They asked the tribe what are they waiting for?  Just go attack the peaceful people we have seen, who are living in security.  Six hundred armed Danites went to war on a distant people without God's blessing instead of fighting for the land God promised them.

13-19) On their travels, they stop at Micah's house and take his idols and the priest for hire.  Micah tried to stop them, but the idols did nothing about it.  So the Danites took the idols and the Levite for themselves.  I'm sure the idols and Levite would bring God's blessing to the Danites.......just as they did for Micah!

20) The Levite received a boost to his ego when he was invited to be a priest to a tribe rather than just a man.  What are we in it for?  Are we spreading The Gospel and leading others to Christ for purely selfish reasons...fame, acceptance, praise..etc.?  

21-26) The Danites were too powerful and many for Micah to fight, so he was left with no idols or priest of his own.  Which really is a shame, because Shiloh wasn't that far from him and he could enjoy a relationship with the One True God.

27-30)  The Danites slew the inhabitants of Laish and renamed the place Dan.  There they set up the idols of Micah.  Johnathan, Manasseh's grandson, and also Jacob's great-grandson, was the false priest for them.   This shows that no matter who your preacher is related to or how famous he is, you should test the Spirit and be sure he is called by God to minister to His people.  Otherwise, you will be lead down the path to death as surely as these Danites were.

31) The house of the One True God was in Shiloh.  Micah first, the the tribe of Dan set up a rival religion and rejected a relationship with God.  This is the downfall of a nation:  apostasy.  We need to be on our knees daily praying for our country and those who represent us.  

How about you?  Do you even know God?  Do you have a personal relationship with Him?  Click here to learn how to become a son of The Living God:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

If this post has been a blessing to you, please pray that God blesses our efforts and helps us reach those who are seeking Him.  We would surely also love to hear from you whether you have a question or a suggestion, you can leave a comment on this site.  Your comments encourage us.  

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JUDGES 17--THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION

THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION---PART 1

JUDGES 17

1) And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

2) And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursed and spoke of also in my ears, behold, the silver is with me;  I took it.  And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.

3) And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image:  now therefore I will restore it unto thee.

4) Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image:  and they were in the house of Micah. 

5) And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

6) In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

7) And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

8) And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place:  and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

9) And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou?  And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.

10) And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals.  So the Levite went in.

11) And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.

12) And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

13) Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

Definitions

ephod---garment worn by the high priest

teraphim---a human shaped idol

COMMENTARY

1) Ephraim was located in the wild, uncultivated hill-country (according to Wikipedia) thirteen miles to the northeast of Jerusalem, "perched on a conspicuous eminence and with an extensive view" between the central towns and the Jordan valley.

2) Micah was a thief. He stole about a years earnings from her and received a curse from her for it, which she tried to recant when he gave it back to her.  So, she was at fault for not correcting him and he was at fault for stealing from his own mother.  Who does that?  Most mothers would GIVE their children whatever they have for the asking.

3) Then the mom goes even further and says she was saving the money to make graven images for the LORD.  I don't know about you, but have you not read the second commandment?  "Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image."  So, why would she do this thing?  

4) Micah gave the money back to his mother and she took out two hundred shekels and gave it to the idol maker.  The idols were added to Micah's house of idols.

5) Micah not only had a house of gods, but he made an ephod, which was a dressing for a priest and he made a teraphim, an idol in the image of a man.  If that weren't bad enough, he also consecrated his own son as a priest!  The LORD was not in any of this!

teraphim image courtesy of ynetnews.com

6) In those days, priestly judges were the law.  They had no king unless you recognize The King of Kings!  Obviously, not everybody consulted a judge when they wanted spirituality.  They just conjured up whatever they thought was right at the time.

7, 8) So, here comes a Levite, who was of the priestly tribe of Israel.  He had no business wandering off on his own.  He had a city to live in and a place established by God for him to minister.  Even the Levite was doing what was right in his own eyes!  

9,10) The Levite came to Micah's house as he traveled.  Micah discovered he was a Levite, so he offered him clothes, room and board, and a stipend to be his "priest".  Surely God would bless that arrangement!  Don't we all do this, though, in one way or another?  We do things all on our own and then ask God to bless it when we never consulted Him to begin with?  What Micah was actually doing was setting up a rival religion and turning his back on having a relationship with The Most High God.  

   What about you?  Do you want a relationship with the LORD?  click here to learn more:    https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

11) And the Levite was content with the arrangement.  We have ministers today who are content with giving a show and demanding "seeds" for their efforts, while leading souls to hell.  There are contemporary ministers who are no more than motivational speakers doing this,  but one comes to my mind from decades ago when he told his "sheep" that if he didn't raise eight million dollars in a certain period of time, that "God was going to call him home."  These people are content to use religion as a means of living.

12) We are instructed to "test the spirits" to confirm or deny any "man of God".  If he does not preach Jesus, and Him crucified, run!  Run as fast as you can away from him, as he is working for Satan!

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