Who are the main people in the story of the Levite’s concubine?

The main person is a Levite who lives near the hill country of Ephraim. He has a concubine from Bethlehem who leaves him and stays with her father. The Levite goes to speak kindly to her and bring her back. Her father, the young man’s servant, and an old man from Gibeah also appear. The men of Gibeah, called sons of Belial, surround the house and abuse the woman. At the end, the Levite sends her body in pieces to all Israel, drawing the whole nation into the story.

What does it mean that there was no king in Israel in this passage?

The line about there being no king in Israel sets the mood for the whole story. It tells us that there was no strong leader to uphold justice or make sure God’s law was obeyed. People did what they thought was right, even when it was evil. The Levite’s mixed motives, the lack of hospitality in Gibeah, the violent men, and the shocking way the Levite responds at the end all show what happens when a people turn from God and have no godly leadership to restrain sin.

Why did the Levite refuse to stay in Jebus but choose Gibeah instead?

When the servant suggests they stay in Jebus, the Levite refuses because it is a city of foreigners, not of Israel. He expects that staying among his own people in Gibeah or Ramah will be safer and more fitting. He trusts that an Israelite town will show him kindness and hospitality. The sad twist of the story is that the city of Gibeah, though belonging to Benjamin, offers no welcome at first and then becomes the place of the worst kind of abuse, showing that sinful Israelites can be more dangerous than the surrounding nations.

Why is there such a strong focus on hospitality in this passage?

Hospitality is at the center of what happens. The Levite is warmly received and delayed by his concubine’s father, who feeds him and urges him to stay. Later, in Gibeah, no one at first takes them in, which already hints at cold hearts. Only an old man, himself an outsider from Ephraim, finally brings them into his house and warns them not to stay in the street. The failure of the town to care for travelers, and then the mob’s violence, show how badly the basic duty of kindness to strangers has broken down in Israel.

Why did the Levite give his concubine to the men of Gibeah?

This is one of the hardest parts of the passage to read. The old man first offers his own daughter and the Levite’s concubine to the wicked men, trying to protect his guest. When the men refuse to listen, the Levite takes his concubine and pushes her out to them. The text shows how fear, cowardice, and a twisted view of honor lead to a terrible choice. It is not presented as good or right but as a sign of how far God’s people had fallen from his ways of justice and protection for the weak.

What is the meaning of the Levite cutting his concubine into twelve pieces?

After finding his concubine dead at the door, the Levite takes her home, cuts her body into twelve pieces, and sends them throughout Israel. This shocking act is meant to stir the whole nation to see how serious the sin in Gibeah is. The twelve pieces match the twelve tribes, calling each tribe to face what has happened. Those who see it say nothing like this has been done since Israel came out of Egypt, and they call one another to consider it, take counsel, and speak, showing that sin in one place concerns the whole people.

What does this passage teach about moral and social decay?

The story paints a picture of a society that has drifted far from God. A Levite treats a concubine as a lesser partner, the woman is unfaithful, a father delays his son-in-law with feasting, a whole town ignores travelers, and then a mob commits brutal sin. Even the Levite’s response to her death is shocking. The final words, calling Israel to think and speak, show that the whole nation must face how low things have sunk. It warns that when people leave God’s ways, both private and public life can become twisted and cruel.

How can believers today respond to a story as dark as this one?

This passage is not meant to entertain but to sober us. It reminds readers to take sin seriously, in themselves and in their communities. It calls people to care for the vulnerable, to practice real hospitality, and to reject the kind of group evil seen in Gibeah. It also shows the need for wise, godly leadership and for hearts that truly follow God rather than doing whatever seems right. When reading such a dark account, prayer, repentance, and renewed commitment to God’s ways are fitting responses.

Judg.19.1

Judges 19:1

KJV

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 Beth-lehem-judah.

The Crime of the Benjamites

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 Beth-lehem-judah.

2 And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Beth-lehem-judah, 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 Beth-lehem-judah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Beth-lehem-judah, 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 was 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.

Cross References

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