Lesson 20 The Levite and His Concubine

The Visit to Her Father The concubine was unfaithful to the Levite, and ran away to her father’s home in Bethlehem The Levite traveled to see her and be kind to her Her father was happy to see him and convinced him to stay 5 days He departed late in the day on the fifth day

Staying In Gibeah As they departed Bethlehem, the servant suggested that they stay in Jerusalem He did not want to stay at Jerusalem, but suggested Gibeah or Ramah instead The sun began to set as they were in Gibeah He set up camp in the street because no one invited him in An old man from Ephraim came by after sunset and invited them into his house

Ramah Mizpah

The Night in Gibeah As the old man was entertaining the Levite, some very wicked men from the city came knocking on his door Their request was the same as the men of Sodom The old man offered his daughter (similar to Lot), but the men refused The Levite offered his concubine, and they took her and abused her until morning

The Death of the Concubine After being released, the concubine made her way back to the house, but fell with her hands at the threshold of the door As he was leaving, the Levite told her to get up, but she was dead The Levite took her body and dismembered it and sent pieces to every tribe in Israel Those who saw it said, “No such thing has been done in Israel since Egypt”

Israel’s Response All of Israel (400,000 soldiers) gathered together at Mizpah, and Benjamin knew it They asked what had happened and the Levite told the story They decided to gather an army and go against Benjamin They asked Benjamin to deliver the wicked men who had done this so that they could be put to death Benjamin refused

The War With Benjamin Israel had 400,000 and Benjamin had 26,000 plus the men of Gibeah, plus 700 skilled slingers Israel went to Bethel, asked God, and God said Judah shall go first against Benjamin 22,000 of Israel were killed! Israel asks Jehovah if they should go again 18,000 were killed on the second day!

The War With Benjamin Then, Israel returned to Bethel, wept, fasted, and offered sacrifices Jehovah told them to go to battle again, and He would deliver Benjamin to them This time, went and attacked Benjamin, drew them from the city and then another group ambushed the city Israel killed 25,000 of Benjamin that day 600 escaped to the Rock of Rimmon

The Preservation of Benjamin Israel had made an oath at Mizpah that nobody would give his daughter to Benjamin Israel cried to Jehovah and offered sacrifices because they feared losing a tribe They also had made an oath that any that did not gather at Mizpah would be put to death Jabesh-gilead had not appeared at Mizpah 12,000 went to make war with Jabesh-gilead

The Preservation of Benjamin The 12,000 were commanded to kill all the men and married women in Jabesh-gilead They found 400 young virgins, but that wasn’t enough for the 600 men of Benjamin The plan was for the remaining men of Benjamin to capture daughters who came out of Shiloh to dance during the annual feast When the fathers complained, they would tell them that they didn’t “give” them