Hate crime: Judges 19 An Ujamaa Bible Study

1. Listen to a dramatic reading of Judges 19 1. Listen to a dramatic reading of Judges 19. The story ends with the following sentence: “Consider it, take counsel, and speak out”. What does the story want us to “speak out” about? 2. The story as a whole could be considered as a story about multiple hate crimes. Let’s explore it carefully, scene by scene, beginning with the opening scene, 19:1-9. Re-read this section. Who are the characters in this section, and what are the relationships between them? Check different translations where possible. 3. To what extent is the woman an agent in this opening scene? Who is in control and how is this control exercised?

4. In the second scene, 19:10-21, the Levite and his concubine set out on a journey to the Levite’s home. Re-read this section. What prejudices (and power dynamics) determine where the Levite spends the night? 5. The third scene, 19:22-30, begins with hospitality but then spirals into various acts of violence. Identify each act of violence and the motive for the violence. Could these be considered hate crimes? 6. What role does the issue of male power and control play in this section? Draw a picture of the hierarchy of relationships in this section that create the conditions for these hate crimes. This CBS requires access to documentation on ‘hate crime’. Eg. “Stop hate crime targeting LGBTI people”, Pietermaritzburg: Gay & Lesbian Network, 2013. What about the ‘intervention’ of the Levite in verse 25?

7. Trace how the woman’s identity and dignity is dealt with across this whole chapter/story. Trace how she moves from being an agent (who takes control of her life) to being an abused and mutilated body/object. 8. There are contending voices in this text. What is the dominant voice in this text? Can you identify marginal, contending, voices? 9. The story concludes with a challenge (verse 30): “Consider it, take counsel, and speak out”. This is a call to action. What kind of action will you take … to stand in solidarity with those who are hated? to challenge your church to ‘speak out’ against hate crime? 10. Homework: Unfortunately, the text does not take its own advice. If we read on (20:1-48), the violence continues and escalates. Hate seems to create more hate; violence seems to create yet more violence. How can we break the cycle of hate and violence? Narrative point of view? Hebrew text versus Old Greek text? What is verse 30 a call to?