"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."
Judges 19:29 is a verse that comes at the end of a harrowing and disturbing account found in Judges 19:1-30. To fully understand the significance of this verse, it is essential to examine the broader context:The passage recounts a tragic incident involving an unnamed Levite and his concubine.
The Levite and his concubine were traveling through Gibeah, a city of the tribe of Benjamin. They sought shelter for the night, but no one offered them hospitality until an elderly man took them in.
While they were lodging in the old man’s house, wicked men from the city surrounded the house, demanding that the Levite be handed over to them so they could have sexual relations with him. In an act of extreme wickedness and desperation to protect himself, the Levite pushed his concubine outside the door, allowing the men to rape and abuse her throughout the night. She ultimately died at the threshold of the house.
When morning came, the Levite discovered his concubine dead, and he took her lifeless body and divided it into twelve pieces, sending one piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The purpose behind this gruesome act was to provoke a response and to call the people to action, exposing the severity of the sin committed by the men of Gibeah.
This shocking event illustrates the moral degradation and lawlessness prevalent during the period of the judges when everyone did what was right in their own eyes. The incident serves as a graphic depiction of the depravity and brutality that can arise when people abandon God’s laws and follow their own desires.
Conclusion:While Judges 19:29 portrays a deeply disturbing and tragic event, it does not necessarily imply divine approval of the actions taken by the Levite. Instead, it serves as a stark commentary on the moral decay and chaos of the time, highlighting the desperate need for righteous leadership and adherence to God’s commands.
Overall, Judges 19:29 challenges readers to confront the consequences of sin and the importance of upholding God’s moral standards, demonstrating the devastating outcomes that arise when individuals forsake God’s ways.
