**The Tragedy of Gibeah: A Story of Sin and Judgment**
In those days, when there was no king in Israel, every man did what was right in his own eyes. It was a time of moral decay, where the people had turned away from the Lord and His commandments. The story that follows is a dark and sorrowful tale, one that reveals the depths of human depravity and the consequences of forsaking God.
There was a Levite who lived in the remote hill country of Ephraim. He had taken a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah, but she had become angry with him and returned to her father’s house in Bethlehem. After four months, the Levite decided to go after her, to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He took with him a servant and two donkeys, and they made the journey to Bethlehem.
When they arrived, the concubine’s father was overjoyed to see him. He welcomed the Levite warmly and insisted that he stay with them. The Levite remained in Bethlehem for three days, eating, drinking, and enjoying the hospitality of his father-in-law. On the fourth day, the Levite rose early, intending to leave, but his father-in-law urged him to stay longer. “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread,” he said, “and afterward you may go.” So they ate and drank together, and the Levite stayed yet another night.
On the fifth day, the Levite rose early again, determined to depart. But once more, his father-in-law persuaded him to stay, saying, “Please, stay until the day declines.” So they lingered until the afternoon, and then the Levite prepared to leave with his concubine and servant. His father-in-law said, “Look, the day is drawing to a close. Stay the night, and let your heart be merry. Tomorrow you may rise early and go on your way.”
But the Levite refused to stay another night. He set out with his concubine and servant, traveling toward the hill country of Ephraim. As evening approached, they came near the city of Jebus, which is Jerusalem. The servant suggested they spend the night there, but the Levite refused, saying, “We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners, who are not of the people of Israel. We will go on to Gibeah.”
They continued their journey and arrived at Gibeah, a city of the tribe of Benjamin, as the sun was setting. They sat down in the open square of the city, but no one offered them hospitality. It was a stark contrast to the warmth and generosity they had experienced in Bethlehem.
Finally, an old man came in from his work in the fields. He was also from the hill country of Ephraim but was living in Gibeah. When he saw the travelers in the square, he asked, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?” The Levite explained that they were traveling from Bethlehem to the hill country of Ephraim and had no place to stay. The old man welcomed them into his home, saying, “Peace be to you. Let me provide for all your needs. Only do not spend the night in the square.”
The old man brought them into his house and fed their donkeys. The travelers washed their feet, ate, and drank, and their hearts were comforted. But as they were enjoying the hospitality, the men of the city, a wicked and depraved group, surrounded the house. They began pounding on the door, demanding that the old man bring out the Levite so they could have their way with him.
The old man went out to them and pleaded, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. This man is my guest. Do not commit this outrage. Here is my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine. Let me bring them out to you. Do with them as you please, but do not do this vile thing to the man.”
But the men would not listen. In desperation, the Levite seized his concubine and pushed her out to them. They abused her throughout the night, and at dawn, they let her go. She collapsed at the doorway of the house, where her master was staying, and lay there until morning.
When the Levite rose early and opened the door to leave, he found his concubine lying at the threshold, her hands grasping the doorframe. He said to her, “Get up; let us go.” But there was no answer. He placed her on the donkey and set out for home.
When he arrived, he took a knife, cut her body into twelve pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel. Everyone who saw it said, “Such a thing has never happened or been seen from the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt until now. Consider it, take counsel, and speak.”
The people of Israel were horrified. They gathered together as one man, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and assembled before the Lord at Mizpah. The leaders of all the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men armed with swords. The Levite stood before them and recounted the terrible events that had taken place in Gibeah. He held up the pieces of his concubine as evidence of the wickedness that had been done.
The people were united in their outrage. They resolved to punish the men of Gibeah and purge the evil from their midst. They sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin, demanding that they hand over the guilty men. But the Benjamites refused to listen. Instead, they gathered their warriors to defend Gibeah.
A fierce battle ensued. The Benjamites, skilled in warfare, initially gained the upper hand, but the Israelites sought the Lord’s guidance and eventually prevailed. The tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out, and the city of Gibeah was destroyed. Only 600 Benjamite men escaped, fleeing to the rock of Rimmon, where they remained for four months.
The Israelites grieved for their brothers of Benjamin, for the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel. They sought to restore the tribe, providing wives for the surviving Benjamites so that the tribe would not be lost. Yet the memory of Gibeah’s sin and the resulting judgment served as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.
This tragic story stands as a testament to the depths of human sin and the importance of seeking righteousness. It reminds us that when we forsake the Lord and follow our own desires, chaos and destruction follow. But even in the darkest times, God’s justice prevails, and His mercy offers hope for restoration.
